By: Joe Haemmerle '86
SEPTEMBER 6 – NEWARK, NJ - Smooth sailing to start as BC sent a kick deep, pinning the hosts in their end of the field. After a 4-yard punt, the BC took over at the Shabazz 21 yard line. QB
Michael Martino hit
Matthew Cusick for a 15-yard completion, setting up a first and goal at the 6. Two plays later, Martino was sprinting around left end into the end zone, giving BC a lead they would never surrender.
On the ensuing drive, the Bulldog snapper lofted the ball over the quarterback's head and a wild scramble began after the ball. Ultimately,
Nakai Booker scooped the loose ball and scored the six and the route was on.
The Crusaders were stopped on fourth and goal on their next possession, but two plays later,
Mason Reineke recovered a mishandled hand-off by MXS and BC was in business once again.
Martino to Cusick set up a first and goal at the 2 and two plays later,
Nico Santoli scored his first touchdown as a Crusader with a one-yard plunge.
Down 21 must have inspired Shabazz and they quickly answered with a long kick-off return for a touchdown. BC had an opportunity to score once more and took full advantage. From the 15 yard line,
Matthew Cusick hauled in a
Michael Martino touchdown pass, fighting through a pair of would-be tacklers, determined to score!
Jake Sadaka kicked his fourth PAT of the half and BC was up 28-8.
The Bulldogs had a last-ditch effort to get a score before the half, but the late bomb was intercepted by
Michael Martino and returned 40 yards on the final play of the half.
Luciano Tarone entered the game to lead the team from the QB position and engineered a drive resulting in
Nico Santoli's second TD run.
Auquan Moses, Jr. was a major force turning the defensive end out of the hole.
Carrigh Rutledge was also one of the key blockers at the point of attack along with
Bryce Crawford and the offensive line of Sadaka,
Dominik Priester,
Giovanni Binetti and
Frank Boguski who collapsed the right side of the defensive line.
| TEAMS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
| Bergen Catholic |
14 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
35 |
| Malcom X. Shabazz |
0 |
8 |
0 |
6 |
14 |
