By: Joe Haemmerle '86
OCTOBER 17 – MORRISTOWN, NJ – The Crusaders built a 24-3 lead, scoring in each quarter, before yielding a pair of late touchdowns. The win shows signs of a champion, getting up off the mat in order to earn win #4 on the 2026 season and regain a state #2 ranking.
Brody Carnahan opened the scoring, depositing an 18-yard field goal to open the scoring. The Green Wave tied the score at 3 early in the second before
Trey Tagliaferri found senior wide-receiver
Anthony Willis on an intermediate route and Willis took the ball 28 yards into the end zone, giving BC a 10-3 halftime lead.
Cruz Araujo was all over the field, leading the team in tackles with 16, including 5 solos, a solo TFL and a half sack with classmate
Justin Golden. Senior defensive back
Amar'e Newell is playing some of his best football and you can see what an impact he's made. Newell recorded 11 tackles, including 4 solos. Classmate
Tristan Herring made 7 tackles and defended a pass.
Mason Chadwick (7 tackles) and
Austin Bryan (2 tackles) continue to impress on defense as well. Rocky Rosensberg led the defensive line with 7 tackles.
Bryan Porter, who rushed for 85 yards, scored a touchdown from two yards out to put BC up 17-3. Porter also pulled down seven catches for 61 yards.
Willis' big game continued in the fourth quarter as he made the longest play in his high school career, a 70-yard touchdown reception from Tagliaferri to put BC up 24-3. Willis finished with six catches for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns on the afternoon. Tagliaferri played a clean game as well, completing 17 of 21 for 265 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The offensive line of
Justin Golden, Yah-yah Lewis,
Thomas Esposito,
Finn Gilleece and
Luke George helped the Crusaders rush for 134 yards and provided enough protection for Tagliaferri to deliver 265 yards through the air.
| TEAMS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
| #5 Bergen Catholic (4-3) |
3 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
24 |
| Delbarton (3-4) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
14 |
17 |
| Q |
Scoring Play |
BC |
D |
| 1 |
Brody Carnahan 18-yd field goal |
3 |
0 |
| 2 |
Hudson Yoo 42-yd field goal |
3 |
3 |
| 2 |
Anthony Willis 28 pass from Trey Tagliaferri (Carnahan kick) |
10 |
3 |
| 3 |
Bryan Porter 28 pass from Tagliaferri (Carnahan kick) |
17 |
3 |
| 4 |
Anthony Willis 70 pass from Tagliaferri (Carnahan kick) |
24 |
3 |
| 4 |
DJ Benfatti 21 run (Yoo kick) |
24 |
10 |
| 4 |
Jayden Schmalz 5 run (Yoo kick) |
24 |
17 |
| BC |
GAME STATS |
D |
| 20 |
1st Downs |
18 |
| 11 / 8 / 1 |
1st Downs Rush / Pass / Pen |
14 / 4 / 0 |
| 134 |
Rush Yards |
246 |
| 17 / 21 / .462 |
Pass Comp / Att / Pct. |
6 / 7 / .765 |
| 265 |
Pass Yards |
72 |
| 2 / 0 |
Passing TD's / Int |
0 / 0 |
| 54 |
Total Plays |
51 |
| 399 |
Total Yardage |
318 |
| 1 / 0 |
Fumbles / Lost |
0 / 0 |
| 2 / 2 |
Defensive Sacks / Yards |
1 / 9 |
| 21:05 |
Time of Possession |
26:55 |
| 5 of 7 |
3rd Down Efficiency |
2 of 9 |
| 0 of 0 |
4th Down Efficiency |
2 of 2 |
| 2 / 34.0 |
Punts / Avg. |
3 / 35.7 |
