AUGUST 29 - MONTVALE, NJ -   The Crusaders traveled to  SJR on Saturday afternoon to take on one of their most fierce rivals, the Green Knights.  When the final whistle blew, it was the visiting Crusaders who walked off the field with a  well-earned 17-7 victory in their season opener.
     Both teams showed opening day jitters in their first possessions, but the Crusaders put together a 99-yard drive that lasted from late in the first quarter to midway through the second, resulting in a  Michael Martino pass to Matthew Cusick 60 yards for a TD.  Jake Sadaka booted the ball through the uprights off a clean hold by Gavin Tannenholtz and BC had a 7-0 lead.
     The home knights took just one big return, plus a 50-yard run to score to start the second half, but the PAT failed and BC retained a 7-6 lead.
          Mike Martino hit Bryce Crawford for a 41-yard completion down to the SJR 15 yard line.  On the next play, Martino sprinted from his QB position around the left end to pay dirt and BC was up 14-6.
     Jake Sadaka hit a 30-yard field goal from the hash to put the game on ice and the BC defense closed the door on SJR with some big tackles from Auquan Moses, Jr., Matthew Cusick, Michael Martino, Cody Henderson and Malachi Thomas.
     The offensive line was stellar for the Crusaders, especially the play of Carrigh Rutledge,  Giovanni Binetti, Frank Bogulski, Jake Sadaka,  John Tejada and Dominic Priestner.    While you might expect receivers to earn accolades through receiving efforts, Nakai Booker was OUTSTANDING blocking downfield.  Three of his blocks played critical roles in plays on BC's first scoring drive and he was a force on defense as well.
 

TEAMS	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Bergen Catholic	0	7	7	3	17
St. Joseph Reg.	0	0	6	0	6