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Crusaders fall in state final, 42-14

EAST RUTHERFORD---Sometimes it's as simple as the better team won, and that was the case on Friday night in the Non-Public Group 4 State Final. Don Bosco Prep earned their 6th straight state title behind a dominant defensive and special teams performance that kept the Crusaders off balance all night long in a 42-14 win. The Crusaders turned the ball over 7 times on the night, and the Ironmen cashed in countless touchdowns off of these forced mistakes. Despite the loss, the Crusaders continued to display their never-say-die mentality, and battled against their superior opponent.

BC fell into a quick 14-point deficit late in the 1st quarter off an interception and then a botched punt attempt. Don Bosco Prep is an exceptional team, and when gifted with amazing field position, DBP took advantage each time by putting touchdowns quickly on the board. Mike Yankovich's 1-yard run gave Bosco a 7-0 lead, which was followed up less than 2 minutes later by Elijah Shumate's 6-yard TD run to double the Bosco lead to 14-0.

The Crusaders bounced back from this quick body blow by taking the ball down the field and capping off the drive with a wide-open 10-yard touchdown run by Mike Gerst which pulled the Crusaders to within 14-7. While the Red & Gold had plenty of chances to knot the score up at 14 all, BC could never manage to find that big play that would get them back in the endzone. After Bosco blocked a punt in the 2nd quarter, the Ironmen turned the special teams play into another touchdown and led 21-7 at the break.

On the first play from scrimmage after halftime, Bosco's Leonte Carroo made a jaw-dropping run where he reversed field on a bubble screen, and nearly went the distance for the score. As Bosco was preparing to extend its lead, Ryan Kelly intercepted a pass in the endzone and kept BC alive at 21-7. But as quickly as Kelly's play gave BC hope, a tipped interception return for a score by Shumate crushed BC's chance to get back into the game.

While the Crusaders would score their second touchdown on a Germano fade pass to Kyle Queiro -- set up by a brilliant 90+ yard kickoff return by Mike Gerst -- BC would not get a real chance to make some serious noise in the game's 2nd half. The Ironmen continued to force turnovers, collapse the pocket and generate sacks against Germano and his offense. Another touchdown run from Mike Yankovich, coupled with a 37-yard touchdown run from Jabrill Peppers, accounted for the final scores of the night and left Bosco as state champions yet again.

Despite the frustration of losing, this 2011 BC football season was one to remember in regards to the various locations where BC played their games, and will forever be remembered in the style that they played them. BC played a non-stop brand of football where toughness, relentlessness, and accountability were on display on each and every down. This team outworked many foes, and the players fed off the enthusiasm and energy of the BC coaching staff. This program in still looking for its first championship since 2004, but are headed in the right direction and will get to that goal sooner than others may think.  This team made all those affiliated with the school proud to be Crusaders.

ABOUT DAN LONG

Dan Long graduated from Bergen Catholic in 2003 where he was the Sports Director of BCTV and coined the immortal phrase "Crusader Crazies" for the raucous BC student section. He is currently the radio voice of Bergen Catholic football, the founder of DL Sports Media, and a weekly contributor to BergenCatholicFootball.com.