Bergen Catholic NJ Football vs. Don Bosco in State Finals: Live Updates

One of New Jersey’s best high school football rivalries wrote another chapter Friday night as Bergen Catholic defeated Don Bosco 25-7 in the Non-Public A state championship game in front of 14,886 spectators.

The win completed a four-game championship sweep for the Crusaders, a program record. Three of those four championship victories came against rival Ironmen.

Fourth quarter

Bryan Porter scored on a jet sweep for the second time in the fourth quarter. His 26-yard run likely sealed Bergen Catholic’s victory with 3:51 to play. Bergen Catholic 25, Don Bosco 7

Bergen Catholic regained possession in its own territory with 8:32 to play by stopping Deven Sisler short of a first down.

Bryan Porter hit a jet sweep and extended the Crusaders’ lead with a 48-yard touchdown run with 11:20 left. Bergen Catholic 18, Don Bosco 7

Crusaders running back Najee Calhoun perfectly executed a pooch punt when a teammate dumped the ball at the Don Bosco 1-yard line. On the ensuing play, Bergen Catholic made a tackle in the end zone for another safety. Bergen Catholic 11, Don Bosco 7

Bergen Catholic began the quarter with a third-and-13 from its own 34-yard line.

Third quarter

A 30-yard touchdown run by Dominic Campanile was negated by a holding penalty. Consecutive false start penalties then pushed the Crusaders back to their own 34-yard line.

Bergen Catholic gained possession for the first time of the half by stopping Don Bosco four yards from the uprights on a fourth play with 4:35 left in the quarter.

The Ironmen called a timeout with 7:03 left in the third quarter and faced a third-and-4 at the Crusaders’ 36-yard line. They converted a 5-yard pass from Deven Sisler to Isaiah Alvarez.

Don Bosco received the kick-off for the second half. After a holding penalty was assessed on the return, the Ironmen started at their own 18-yard line.

Second quarter

Don Bosco’s defense forced a three-pointer. The teams then played three-way games with three incomplete passes each.

Don Bosco went out on a three-pointer and was forced to punt with 3:52 left in the half. The punt was blocked by Ethan Cohall, then the Don Bosco punter fired the ball out of the back of the end zone to prevent the Crusaders from recovering. Security. Bergen Catholic 9, Don Bosco 7

A 41-yard field goal attempt by Bergen Catholic failed with 5:14 left in the half.

Bergen Catholic forced turnovers on consecutive Don Bosco drives. The second score came on an interception by Naiim Parrish, who now holds the program record for career interceptions with 15.

The Crusaders recovered a Don Bosco fumble at their own 33-yard line. Delaney Fludd forced the fumble and Brandon Wilson recovered it. But BC couldn’t capitalize on it and took the lead with a three-pointer for the second time in the quarter.

Bergen Catholic scored three-out on its first drive of the second quarter. Don Bosco took over at the Crusaders’ 43-yard line.

Don Bosco began the quarter with a second-and-3 from its own 46-yard line. The Ironmen stumbled two plays later.

First quarter

Bergen Catholic was forced to punt with 15 seconds left in the quarter.

Don Bosco tied the game after a 20-yard run by Dante DeLuca. One play earlier, Deven Sisler completed a long pass to Isaiah Alvarez. Bergen Catholic 7, Don Bosco 7

Bergen Catholic scored first on a 5-yard touchdown run by Dominic Campanile. His run capped a drive that included several long plays. Bergen Catholic 7, Don Bosco 0

The Ironmen converted a key fourth down when Deven Sisler hit Isaiah Alvarez on a slant route for a 9-yard gain. Four plays later, Don Bosco tried again in the fourth, but Sisler was sacked.

Don Bosco called a timeout with 8:05 left in the first quarter on a third-and-8 from the Bergen Catholic 33-yard line. On the following play, a long pass failed.

After getting a first down on their first play from scrimmage, Bergen Catholic reversed and had to punt. Don Bosco started his first attack in midfield.

The opening kickoff came via touchback, allowing Bergen Catholic to start the ball from its own 20-yard line.

Don Bosco won the coin toss and adjourned.

Before the game

Fourteen Bergen Catholic students sang the national anthem.

Bergen Catholic wears all-red jerseys with shiny gold helmets.

Don Bosco rocks an all-white look.

Will the game start on time?

Thanks to a running clock in the fourth quarter, the Group 1 state final ended at 7:22 p.m. The non-public A-final should start directly at 8:00 p.m. or a few minutes later.

The Non-Public A state final will be the fourth game of the day at MetLife Stadium. Check out our live scoreboard.

Weather report

At 8 p.m. it is 37 degrees in East Rutherford. By 11 p.m. the temperature drops to 35 degrees

Although it could be windy, no rain or snow is forecast.

Current series history

Bergen Catholic has won the last three meetings between these teams.

Don Bosco’s last win in this series came during the 2022 regular season, a 31-7 victory. The Crusaders avenged that loss two months later in the state final, 45-0.

Bergen Catholic won the regular season meetings last season and this season. The Crusaders won this season’s game 24:20.

Bergen Catholic NJ Football vs. Don Bosco in State Finals: Live Updates

ByAmelia Journalton

Fourth quarter

By Amelia Journalton

Related Post

Do you think SoFi is expensive? This chart might change your mind.

This AI Company Is the Best-Performing Stock on the S&P 500 of 2024 (Note: It’s Not Nvidia)

Is the newest member of the Nasdaq 100 — up 764% since its IPO — a buy for 2025?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Do you think SoFi is expensive? This chart might change your mind.

This AI Company Is the Best-Performing Stock on the S&P 500 of 2024 (Note: It’s Not Nvidia)

Is the newest member of the Nasdaq 100 — up 764% since its IPO — a buy for 2025?

Raspberry Film Festival: Song Joong Ki wins Worst Acting title; Jung Woo Sung and Gong Yoo Named Worst-Behaved Actors of 2024 |