One of New Jersey’s best high school football rivalries wrote another chapter on Friday night when Bergen Catholic beat Don Bosco, 25-7, in the Non-Public A state championship game in front of a crowd of 14,886.
The win completed a championship four-peat for the Crusaders, a program record. Three of those four championship victories came against the rival Ironmen.
Bryan Porter scored on a jet sweep for the second time in the fourth quarter. His 26-yard run likely sealed a Bergen Catholic win with 3:51 left in the game. Bergen Catholic 25, Don Bosco 7
Bergen Catholic regained possession in their own territory with 8:32 left in the game by stopping Deven Sisler just short of a first down.
Bryan Porter broke loose on a jet sweep to extend the Crusaders’ lead with a 48-yard touchdown run with 11:20 left on the clock. Bergen Catholic 18, Don Bosco 7
Crusaders running back Najee Calhoun executed a pooch punt to perfection, as a teammate downed 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 facing a third-and-13 from their own 34-yard line.
A 30-yard touchdown run by Dominic Campanile was wiped out 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 in the half by stopping Don Bosco four yards short of the sticks on a fourth-down play with 4:35 left in the quarter.
The Ironmen called timeout with 7:03 left in the third quarter, facing a third-and-4 at the Crusaders’ 36-yard line. They converted on a 5-yard pass from Deven Sisler to Isaiah Alvarez.
Don Bosco received the second-half kickoff. After a holding penalty was assessed on the return, the Ironmen started at their own 18-yard line.
The Don Bosco defense forced a three-and-out. The teams then traded three-and-outs with three incomplete passes each.
Don Bosco went three-and-out, forced to punt with 3:52 left in the half. The punt was blocked by Ethan Cohall, then the Don Bosco punter booted the ball out the back of the end zone to keep the Crusaders from recovering. Safety. Bergen Catholic 9, Don Bosco 7
A 41-yard field goal attempt by Bergen Catholic fell short with 5:14 left in the half.
Bergen Catholic forced turnovers on back-to-back Don Bosco drives. The second one came on an interception by Naiim Parrish, who now owns 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, going three-and-out for the second time in the quarter.
Bergen Catholic went three-and-out on its first drive of the second quarter. Don Bosco took over at the Crusaders’ 43-yard line.
Don Bosco began the quarter facing a second-and-3 from its own 46-yard line. The Ironmen punted two plays later.
Bergen Catholic was forced to punt with 15 seconds left in the quarter.
Don Bosco tied the game on 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 struck first on a 5-yard touchdown run by Dominic Campanile. His run capped a drive that featured several long plays. Bergen Catholic 7, Don Bosco 0
The Ironmen converted on a key fourth down as Deven Sisler found Isaiah Alvarez on a slant route, picking up 9 yards. Four plays later, Don Bosco went for it on fourth down again but Sisler was sacked.
Don Bosco called timeout with 8:05 left in the first quarter facing a third-and-8 from the Bergen Catholic 33-yard line. On the ensuing play, a long pass fell incomplete.
After picking up a first down on their first play from scrimmage, Bergen Catholic went backwards and was forced to punt. Don Bosco started its first drive near midfield.
The opening kickoff went for touchback, giving Bergen Catholic the ball to start from its own 20-yard line.
Don Bosco won the coin toss and deferred.
Fourteen students from Bergen Catholic sang the national anthem.
Bergen Catholic is wearing all-red jerseys with shiny gold helmets.
Don Bosco is rocking an all-white look.
Thanks to a running clock in the fourth quarter, the Group 1 state final ended at 7:22 p.m. So the Non-Public A final should start right at 8 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.
At 8 p.m., it will be 37 degrees in East Rutherford. The temperature will drop to 35 degrees by 11 p.m.
While it could be windy, there is no rain or snow in the forecast.
Bergen Catholic has won the last three meetings between these teams.
Don Bosco’s last win in the series came during the 2022 regular season, a 31-7 win. The Crusaders avenged that loss, 45-0, two months later in the state final.
Bergen Catholic won regular-season meetings last season and this season. The Crusaders hung on to win this season’s game, 24-20.
Bergen Catholic’s father-son duo ready for final game together
Darren Cooper’s predictions for the state finals
Everything to know for the Non-Public A final at MetLife Stadium
Memorable playoff games between Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco
Top 5 upsets in Bergen Catholic-Don Bosco rivalry history
Bergen Catholic-Don Bosco: Inside the numbers, series history
All-Time Bergen Catholic Football Team
All-Time Don Bosco Football Team
