By: Joe Haemmerle '86
OCTOBER 17 – ORADELL, NJ – The young Crusaders limped into halftime, quarterback/linebacker Mike Martino injured and out for the remainder of the game. Momentum, a green wave encroaching on The Jack. But BC focused on each snap, to claw out a well-earned 33-21 victory on Saturday morning.
It wasn't a pleasant halftime, but the Crusaders were about to establish one play at time to re-establish ownership of a game, they once led 14-0.
Martino opened the scoring with a 13-yard run, weaving through the low tide and into the end zone. BC's second touchdown was scored by
Peter DiBlasi on a beautiful 74-yard run down the BC sideline. One of the most special part of the play was the extraordinary effort by
Bryce Crawford, sprinting to catch DiBlasi and ultimately pass him, in order to block a potential tackler, springing Peter for the TD.
The joy fell off quickly as the reality that
Michael Martino was injured and the 14-point BC lead was quickly cut in half as Delbarton returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. BC was unable to move the ball and the Green Wave marched quickly for a second score to tie the game and then after a turnover, hoped to take the lead at half. A couple of big plays on the pass translated into field position in the red zone with 5 seconds remaining. Delbarton attempted a field goal, but it hooked wide to the left and the teams were tied.
The Crusaders stopped Delbarton's first drive, sparked by a big hit from safety
Matthew Cusick who separated the ball and the helmet from the Delbarton receiver. Suffice it to say, Ronnie Lott would have been proud.
BC put together a little something sparked by a 55-yard run by
Nico Santoli. The ball eventually made it to the Delbarton 5-yard line before being stopped on downs. On the first play, Delbarton mishandled the snap and an alert
Cody Henderson was present to tackle the ball carrier for a 5-yard tackle for a loss and a safety, giving BC a lead they would not relinquish.
The Green Wave kicked off from their own 20-yard line and
Matthew Cusick took the ball at the BC 39, swept to his right and dodged tacklers, finishing with an electric 61-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, making the score 23-14.
Delbarton scored the next touchdown, cutting the lead to 23-21 and
Bryce Crawford returned the next kickoff 59 yards to deep in Delbarton territory. BC was unable to score, turning the ball over on downs and the Green Wave took over on the 20-yard line. On first down,
Cody Henderson got a piece of the quarterback's hand and the ball floated across to defensive end
Malachi Thomas. Thomas intercepted at the nineteen-yard line and returned the ball for a touchdown, increasing the score to 30-21.
On Delbarton's next play, the QB threw a pass, that was intercepted by DiBlasi who returned it 46 yards to the 3-yard line. BC was unable to punch the ball across the goal line, but
Jake Sadaka drove a field goal attempt through the uprights and BC had a 33-21 lead.
Delbarton decided not to throw the ball on the next play, but after running for minimal gains, and realizing time was short, they needed to take one more try. No luck.
Auquan Moses, Jr. intercepted a Green Wave pass for the third time for BC and the threat ended.
| TEAMS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
| Delbarton |
0 |
14 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
| Bergen Catholic |
7 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
33 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Martino 3 carries, 20 yds, 1TD, Santoli 12 car. 86 yds, DiBlasi 4 car 81 yds, 1TD, Crawford 4 car 20 yds, Henderson 1 car 6 yds, Cusick 3 car 26 yds, Tarone 5 car -2 yds.
PASSING: Martino 2 comp – 10 yds, Tarone 1 comp -5 yds.
RECEIVING: Cusick 1 for 10 yds, Crawford 2 for -4 yds.
TACKLES: Cusick 6 solo; Crawford 4 solo; Moses, Jr. 3 solo 3 ast; Reineke 1 solo, 1 ast; DiBlasi 1 solo, 2 ast; Santoli 1 solo; Thomas 3 ast; Rutledge 1 ast; Henderson 1 solo, 3 ast; Boguski 1 solo; Lawrence 1 ast; Acree 1 ast; Tanneholz 1 ast; Pisani 1 ast.
TFL: Acree 1; Henderson 1
INT: Thomas 1; DiBlasi 1; Moses, Jr. 1
PD: Cusick 4; Thomas 1; Crawford 1; Santoli 1
BLOCKED PASS: Henderson 2
KNOCKED OPPONENT'S HELMET OFF: Cusick 1
