BC was awarded the #2 ranking in New Jersey by The Star Ledger, and was also placed #2 in North Jersey by The Record. MSG Varsity ranked the Crusaders #3 in the entire Tri-State area, and the Red & Gold remain ranked in the Top 40 in the country in several national polls. These local and national rankings are a testament to the exceptional amount of work that the players and coaching staff put into the 2011 season, and the entire BC football program should be applauded for their tremendous efforts during the 2011 campaign.

In the past few days, several Crusader players were rightfully honored for their incredible performances during the 2011 season. 4 Crusaders were honored as 1st-Team All-Bergen performers, led on offense by quarterback Jon Germano, and wide receiver John Tsimis. Defensive end Hunter Kiselick, and cornerback Chucky Wingate also represented the Crusaders on the 1st-Team Defesive Unit. Offensive Tackle Mike Radespiel was a 2nd-Team All-Offense selection on the offensive line, while Mike Gerst and Austin Devine also were honored for their great seasons, being placed on the Honorable Mention list in Bergen County.

This close knit team will forever be remembered as a team that competed with a relentless drive and love of the game, and along with the 2010 team, helped lay the foundation for what is to come in the future under Nunzio Campanile. This team did not buckle under the pressure of a national schedule that put BC in the spotlight with games in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York, and their work ethic will hopefully be replicated by BC teams in the coming years.

Congratulations to all the 2011 Bergen Catholic players, coaches, and families on an excellent season, and it was truly an honor to cover the team the last couple of months.

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.

The 2011 Bergen Catholic Crusaders will never be remembered as a team full of superstars consisting of Division I football talent, and jaw-dropping ability. This team is full of grinders, guys who have bought into a team mentality that allows the group to circle the wagons in big situations, and use their common bond of toughness to will them past their opponents. This BC team has a great collection of skilled players, but their legacy will forever be rooted in the close nature of this year's team, and the bond they share will each other and every Crusader who has ever donned a BC uniform. This 2011 Bergen Catholic team will look to immortalize themselves alongside 16 other BC teams that have captured state championships in program history, and have already forged their legacy as a blue-collar team that plays a brand of football that BC fans can celebrate.

This year's team took to heart all the lessons that they learned from the 2010 team, a squad that brought BC back to the upper echelon of the football rankings in New Jersey during Nunzio Campanile's first campaign in Oradell. The 2010 team was loaded with future collegiate players, who made things look easy on the field with their abundance of natural talent. They dismantled opponents, advanced to the state finals, and gave Bosco all it could handle, before falling late in the game to the Ironmen. The 2010 team helped close the gap, and created a confidence that still surrounds Crusader Country, and it is now up to the 2011 BC team to finish the job and to vanquish Bosco from its place atop New Jersey high school football.

With a daunting national schedule that took the Crusaders to 4 different states, this 2011 team battled elite opponents on the gridiron and combated lower expectations from those outside the program. 2011 was derided by some to be a rebuilding year in Oradell, and that the Crusaders would be lucky to even qualify for the playoffs with a .500 record thanks to their scheduled games against a slew of quality opponents. In their first game of the season against LaSalle, BC quieted those critics with a completely dominant performance against a team that still has only one loss on the year. BC then undertook a trip to Florida, matched up against a national powerhouse program in Plant, and were one play away from pulling out a last second win in the Sunshine State. The Crusaders held a 4th quarter lead at Granatell Stadium, and despite falling to Bosco, had proven to be worthy of its national ranking among the nation's elite. Nothing has been given to this 2011 team; they have had to earn everything along the way, and skeptics still wonder if BC is all smoke and mirrors.

Heading into their game against St. Joe's, the Crusaders were told that the Green Knights were the more experienced team, full of playmakers on an offense that was firing on all cylinders heading into that tilt in Oradell, and sporting a defense that forced turnovers at will against their opponents. BC's 4th quarter onslaught was all the evidence that was needed that day to prove those critics wrong. Against St. Peter's Prep, BC withstood the kitchen sink being thrown at them in the most hostile of environments at Caven Point, and came out on top. Despite that huge win, all this 2011 BC team could hear for the ensuing weeks was that they fell into a win, and that the better team was wearing maroon that night. The playoff rematch 3 weeks later at Crusader Stadium cemented who actually was the better of the two teams, and the 2011 Crusaders had proven their mental and physical toughness against one of the roadblocks in the way of a dream ending.

Now as the 2011 BC football team prepares to run out of the tunnel at MetLife Stadium on Friday night for the last time this season, the blue collar bunch has one final chance to silence the haters. If the game was only to be played on paper, then this Crusader team would have no shot against the crop of athletes that will wear Maroon and White on the opposing sideline, but the best part is that the game will be played between those sidelines, and with everything on the line. This 2011 BC team have prepared just as hard as their opponents, have run just as much in the sweltering summer heat and in the blistering cold, and have gotten the chance one last time to play for a state title.

So many members of the 2011 team experienced the pain of a state final loss in the locker room last December, and also sat quietly on the bus pulling out of the DBP lot this September, reflecting after another loss to the Ironmen. That fire to compete has fueled the team to put its head down and just play, just outwork every team in its path back to the Meadowlands. Now is the time to roll up a decade's worth of frustration and disappointments and to discard it as nothing more than the past. Tonight the 2011 Crusaders focus on the one game at hand, and the one game that matters the most. They don't have any control over the past, but this team can be the ones to dictate the future.

What happens tonight, could echo for a decade, and Crusaders fans should feel fortunate that this 2011 BC football team are the ones in position to make history, because they have rightfully earned this shot at greatness. They have bonded with all the BC teams before them in a common Crusader identity of gridiron greatness, and it's their moment to shine and to grasp a championship by the horns. The 2011 BC team will forever have a legacy as a blue collar team that worked extremely hard in every game and performed on a national stage, it's now up to them to see if they want state championship rings with that legacy.

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.

If there is one team that BC knows as well as themselves, that opponent would be the Don Bosco Prep Ironmen, their opponent in Friday's state final game at MetLife Stadium. The Crusaders have been dominated by their rivals from Ramsey during the past decade, and BC would love nothing more than to find a way to supplant their rivals from their spot atop the football mountain in New Jersey, and reclaim their place as the top program in the Garden State.

• DBP: (10-0) having beaten Mission Viejo (CA), Manatee (FL), Ridgewood, BC, St. Edward's (OH), Passaic Tech, Paramus Catholic (twice), Clifton, and St. Joseph Regional.

Bosco is used to playing in the state finals under Head Coach Greg Toal, as the Ironmen are making their 11th appearance in title game over the past 12 years. DBP brings the longest win streak in the nation into the game, winning 45 straight games since their last loss in 2008 to St. Xavier's from Ohio. Bosco has not lost a single game in Jersey dating back to the 2005 state final against St. Peter's Prep, and have not lost to BC since the 2004 state final. An intimidating list of accomplishments to say the least, but BC is the only opponent who does not get caught in awe of the Ironmen, and is always game to meet up with their long-time rivals.

The game plan is always simple for the top team in the land, as the Ironmen use a suffocating defense to get the ball to their high-powered offense that finishes off all opponents with brutal efficiency. During their run of dominance, Bosco reloads their three units with stables of amazing athletes each season, and this season is no different. With one of the best defenses in the country as their safety net, the offense has the luxury of taking chances on big plays down the field, and have exploded for big performances since taking on the Crusaders in late September. Whether it be on offense, defense, or special teams, Bosco can roll out a tremendous lineup of athletes at any point in a game, and BC will need to contain these following players in order to win the game:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

#18 Jabrill Peppers (SO)-The sophomore already is the best player on the Ironmen roster, and that is certainly saying something when looking at the studs on the field for DBP. Peppers has become the team's top running back, closing in on 900 rushing yards on the year and finding the endzone 19 times. On defense, Peppers is an amazing corner back who is rarely tested by quarterbacks thanks to his speed and ball skills. Peppers ran for over 130 yards and scored a TD last time against BC, and the Crusaders need to find a way to make Peppers a non-factor in the biggest game of the year.

#1 Leonte Carroo (SR)-The senior has proven to be the greatest wide receiver in Bosco's school history, and can take over a game with ease. Carroo has exceptional speed and hands, and caught 6 ball for 73 yards and a TD last time against the Red & Gold. Carroo may be guarded by Chucky Wingate, but BC would still be wise to devote some extra protection in the secondary against one of the top receivers in the state. BC was fortunate to avoid some big plays from Carroo in last year's state final due to some wide open drops, but they cannot expect the same good fortune this time around.

#9 Mike Yankovich (SR)-The senior quarterback has done what has needed to be done for the Ironmen offense, and after struggling in the beginning of the season, Yankovich has been playing his best football of the season. A dual threat throwing and running the football, Yankovich had a great game last time against the Red & Gold, completing 13 of his 19 passes for 1 touchdown and no interceptions, while also picking up several huge third down conversions with pinpoint passes across the field. BC's defense will once again try to make Yankovich be the one to win the game on his own, by taking away several of his other offensive options, and forcing the senior to make plays from inside the pocket.

THREE KEYS FOR BC

• Provide Plenty of Time to Pass the Ball: BC's offensive line was outstanding last time against Bosco's heralded defensive front in affording quarterback Jojn Germano enough time to pass the ball down the field. BC has unwavering trust in Germano's decision making this season, (30 TD passes and only 7 INTs) and want to give him as many chances as possible to make big plays on Friday night. The O-Line will need to remain as solid as they've been all season long on the biggest stage, and not allow their QB to be hit and forced to make throws while under constant distress.
• Stop the Run with Solid Tackling: The Ironmen gashed the Crusaders for over 200 yards on the ground in September, thanks in part to shoddy BC tackling at the point of attack. Peppers and Shumate broke past several BC attempted arm tackles, and found their way into the endzone for 4 scores on the ground. The Crusaders need to play fundamentally solid defense in the trenches, and make sure their secondary play the rights angles on any runs that get past the front 7. Bosco's run game fuels their offense, and BC will need to do a much better job of getting off blocks and wrapping up runners before giving up chunks of yards.
• Have a TD lead late in the Game: Bosco has trailed twice this season in the 4th quarter, but both times it was by only 1 point against Manatee and BC. Bosco rallied to win both those games, and have never really faced true adversity late in a game, with a real shot of losing a game. BC needs to take a sizable lead into the 4th quarter, and actually create doubt in the minds of the Ironmen. Bosco prides itself on being a 4th quarter team, and BC needs to have a lead to build on heading into the game's final 12 minutes.

BC has waited for this chance at redemption since driving away from the DBP parking lot on September 30th, and they get one final chance in 2011 to take down the Ironmen while also capturing a state championship. This BC team is ready to take their next huge step as a program under Nunzio Campanile, and Friday night may be that time.

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.

Each day, leading up to Friday's state final game, Dan Long will break down key aspects of the game that are vital for a Bergen Catholic championship victory. Here is a look at BC's coaching staff, and how the Crusaders' coaching mentality will play a huge part on Friday night:

When you are a coach at a school that has a rich tradition of winning championships, the spotlight is always brighter compared to other schools. With that added attention comes a greater sense of pressure and higher expectations on coaches. You are expected to not only win, but to win consistently, and to win the biggest games against your biggest rivals. It takes a special type of person to be able to deal daily with those lofty demands and stresses, and to thrive on the biggest stage. Bergen Catholic Head Coach Nunzio Campanile and his entire coaching staff live for these challenges, and yearn for another chance to take on Don Bosco Prep in Friday's Non-Public Group 4 State Final.

In the past 10 years, Don Bosco Prep has become the 800 pound gorilla resting on the back of the BC football program, capturing 7 of the past 9 state titles in the group, including winning 5 straight state crowns. Not only have the Ironmen dominated the postseason, but DBP has had an answer for BC in 17 of the last 18 overall match ups, and this prolonged era of Ironmen dominance has created a collective feeling of frustration in Crusader Country. The pressure to win falls upon Coach Campanile and his staff, and Friday night presents another chance for the second year coach to carve out his own historic place in the tradition that is Bergen-Bosco.

Whether it is fair or unfair, Nunzio Campanile understands that even though he has only be in charge of the Crusader program for 3 games against the Ironmen, in a way he inherits the other losses over the past decade as the current face of the BC football program. Campanile is building a program, not just a team, and his sights are always set on being the top gridiron program in the Garden State. As much as he can game plan against his former employer, the results are produced by the players on the field, and he and his coaches can only put them in the best place to win the game.

Every great coach knows how to gain the trust and respect of his team, and that is clearly evident in Crusader Stadium with the BC program. The BC players respond to their fiery, passionate, and energetic coaches, feeding off their intensity and love of the game. In his second year in Oradell, Campanile has instilled a toughness, aggressive mentality, and sense of confidence in his players that can be seen in his quick results. His team has made the state final in his first two seasons, have won 18 of 22 games, and have embarked on a new age of football at BC by engaging in a demanding national schedule. The one thing that Campanile and his coaches need to accomplish next is to defeat their nemesis in a state final.

Campanile has taken on the persona of a gunslinger, a confident coach that is willing to take gambles because of his unwavering trust of his players. Part Les Miles, part Jim Harbaugh, Campanile's passion and fire is never questioned, but his outside-the-box choices have been. Whether it be his onside kicks, the call for a deep pass in the 4th quarter in the 2010 state final, or this year's decision to go for it on 4th down deep in his own end, Campanile's decisions have been controversial and easily second-guessed by a slew "Monday Morning Quarterbacks". That is Nunzio Campanile's personality, and the Crusaders love him for it, and that is why the Crusaders are in another state final under their young head coach.

The BC coaching staff staff employ an aggressive coaching style that demands perfection and effort every time the players step onto the field. The dedication that all of these men have displayed since the summer months is unwavering, and all their work and time have been spent to get the team to this weekend's game, and to take the next step as a program, as a school, and as a family. The pressure of coaching football at a place like Bergen Catholic would cripple many other coaches, but not Campanile and his staff. They have become accustomed to hearing the naysayers proclaim Bosco's invincibility and BC's futile chances of knocking off the Ironmen from their football throne. They have heard the cackles of critics who mock after each loss, and the sour grapes of others who still believe that BC is not as good as their record and rankings indicate. They have transformed these negatives into positive motivation for their players, and more importantly, they have taught them how to properly live their lives as young men.

Obviously you coach to win, and Nunzio Campanile and his coaches have put in the work, have prepared their players to the best of their abilities, and have taught their group what it means to play at Bergen Catholic. BC is in great hands with Campanile and his staff, as they all perfectly embody what it is to be part of the BC Brotherhood, and will bring home a significant amount of championships to Crusader Country.

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.

Each day, leading up to Friday's state final game, Dan Long will break down key aspects of the game that are vital for a Bergen Catholic championship victory. Here is a look at the BC offense, and how the Crusaders need to eclipse the 30 point mark in order to capture a state title:

Bergen Catholic's offense has thrived under the watch of Nunzio Campanile, averaging over 40 points per game during his first 22 games as the varsity head coach in Oradell, and reaching double digits 21 out of 22 games in his tenure. The key stat for the Crusaders has been the number 30, as in 30 points scored. When BC has scored at least 30 points in a game, BC is a perfect (15-0), and in 4 of the 7 times when BC has not reached that 30 point plateau the Crusaders have lost the game. It's no real coincidence that 3 of those 4 losses have all come against a stingy Don Bosco Prep defense.

The Ironmen defense is littered with outstanding athletes who pride themselves on putting up shutouts and making life miserable for opponent offenses. One major reason for Bosco's decade of dominance over the Crusaders can be seen in their commitment to defense in Ramsey, where the Ironmen have allowed over 30 points to BC on only one occasion, back in the 1999 state final when BC thrashed Bosco (42-21) in Head Coach Greg Toal's first season in charge. Bosco just does not allow their foes to find the endzone all that often, and when the DBP offense can race out to an early lead it affords their defense the chance to settle into games and dominate their foes.

BC seems to be the only team that has found some success against the Bosco's vaunted defense in recent seasons. BC has been the highest scoring opponent against DBP the past two years, including the 22 points that the Crusaders put on the board on September 30th. In that game, BC scored their 22 points through the first 3 quarters, but could not generate any additional scoring in the 4th quarter, and saw their slim 22-21 lead disappear late in the game. This time around, BC knows that they will need to be consistent on offense and will need to eclipse that lucky 30 point scoring mark against Bosco.

The Crusaders have shown in the 2 years under Coach Campanile that they can make the scoreboard work overtime with an explosive offense that gets better as the leaves change their color. The passing offense has clicked for 32 touchdowns this season, while the run game has crossed the goal line 20 times this season. BC needs to score in the 30s to win a state title, and to shatter Bosco's aura of invincibility as a lock-down defensive unit.

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.

Each day, leading up to Friday's state final game, Dan Long will break down key aspects of the game that are vital for a Bergen Catholic championship victory. Here is a look at special teams, and how BC needs to win this area of the game in order to capture a state title:

Most high school teams do not focus on special teams as much as both Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco Prep choose to do on a daily basis. For the Crusaders, Special Teams is an extension of their offense, a unit that is capable of giving the ball right back to the offense with onside kicks and angled kickoffs, affording them more opportunities to have the ball in their possession. The Ironmen also use their fair share of fakes on punts that paralyze their opponents, and get their offense in position to attempt game-killing drives. Both sides approach their specialty units with an aggressive mentality, and BC needs their specialty unit to play much better than they did in the regular season if they want to hold the hardware at the end of the night.

It was BC's special teams unit that allowed the Crusaders to be in position to actually take the lead late in the 4th quarter in last season's state championship game. Austin Devine's perfectly placed onside kick was recovered by Spencer Kulcsar in Bosco territory, and made the stadium electric in excitement before an interception ended BC's ensuing offensive drive. When your special teams unit can change a game's momentum, it can be a serious weapon at your disposal. BC's senior kicker has the experience and the skill needed to become an unsung hero on Friday night at MetLife Stadium.

Devine has been exceptional this season in his punting game, rarely allowing any returns while pinning opponents inside their own 20 yard line. The biggest punt return this season against the Crusaders was by the Ironmen, courtesy of a blatant block in the back play that was not called, and thus allowed a 40 yard return against the Red & Gold. Devine will once again be crucial in flipping field position against the Ironmen, as he did against St. Peter's Prep in the semifinals. After not recovering a single onside kick attempt last time against Bosco, and in the process sacrificed valuable field position on each drive, BC might lean more on Devine's strong leg to force Bosco to drive the ball on long fields in order to score touchdowns. Don't forget that Devine also pulled off a perfectly designed 2 point conversion on extra point fake, and ran into the endzone untouched. The senior from Oradell is athletic, and can read and react to punt rushes and Bosco's aggressive style.

Another crucial component is seen in an area that is routinely overlooked in extra point attempts. Every point is critical in a state title game, and BC certainly found this out the hard way in the 2003 state finals in their (14-13) loss to DBP. Devine has been reliable this year with his PATs, converting on 42 of 48 chances, but has missed a couple in recent weeks. If PATs are no longer a sure thing, BC may be forced to go for 2 points, and could leave significant points off the board during the game.

In regards to the return game, James Dawson and Mike Gerst may not get too many opportunities for long returns thanks to Bosco's strong coverage unit, but both returners must be strong with the ball and must not hesitate with their returns. BC cannot afford to start drives inside their own 20 yard line, and any solid return could go a long way for Jon Germano and the Crusader offense. Chucky Wingate dazzled last week with his first punt return for a score this season, and the senior's sure hands and speed will be counted on to secure any Bosco punts and keep BC away from costly turnovers.

BC's special teams need to show up this time around against Bosco, because the Ironmen outplayed them in September in Ramsey. One special teams play can make the difference for the entire season, and whether it is a punt block, an open field tackle by a gunner, or even a game-winning field, BC's speciality unit need to win the battle on Friday. This unit always provides a possible no-name player the chance to be immortalized in school history based on an outstanding play, so who will grab that chance at history at MetLife Stadium for Bergen Catholic?

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.

Each day, leading up to Friday's state final game, Dan Long will break down key aspects of the game that are vital for a Bergen Catholic championship victory. Here is a look at the turnover battle, and how BC needs to be on the positive end of it in order to capture a state title:

When BC checks onto the field on Friday, they will have a daunting task ahead of them when they match up with the top ranked team in the country on the opposite sideline. Bosco has a laundry list of Division I football athletes, has all the confidence in the world seeing that they have not lost in the Garden State since 2005, and have owned the Red & Gold since the 2004 state final. Despite these stiff challenges glaring back at the Crusaders, the key to the game may be its own reflection. BC has consistently stubbed its toe in this match ups against the Ironmen, committing careless mistakes that have gone on to seal their fate against the top team in the land. Bosco knows how to force turnovers and how to punish their opponents for their mistakes, and BC needs to play a flawless game in order to capture their 17th state championship.

In last season's state final game at the Meadowlands, BC turned the ball over a staggering 5 times against Bosco, yet still only trailed by 4 points with under 3 minutes remaining in the game until a late TD ended all comeback hopes. During this season's regular season meeting, the Red & Gold once again turned the ball over at key moments against their rivals from Ramsey, and the two 4th quarter interceptions proved to be the key turning points in the game. Bosco has won the turnover battle against the Crusaders during each game of their current 9 game win streak against BC, and last year's 4th quarter interception in the state final effectively squashed a miraculous comeback attempt from the Crusaders, while allowing the Bosco fan base a collective sigh of relief. It's hard enough to beat Bosco, but you cannot afford the Ironmen more scoring opportunities off of wasted chances on offense.

BC will need to force at least 2 turnovers in the game on defense, and be spotless on offense in order to claim control on Friday night. Bosco is used to watching opponents crack under the pressure, but DBP has never been forced to stare adversity square in the face in the waning moments of a game. By forcing turnovers themselves, BC can get in position to grab a solid and formidable advantage in the game, and actually make Bosco sweat and adjust to their game plan. In this game, interceptions cannot be dropped, and fumbles must be pounced upon before the ensuing scrum at the bottom of the pile.

It is not often that a team gets a second shot at their arch rival, especially when that opponent is ranked #1 in the country. BC must win the turnover battle, and must do so decisively. Turnovers not only give you more chances to score, but they give a team hope, confidence, and momentum.  Bosco has won 5 straight state titles because they are better than anyone else in seizing the moment and forcing deciding turnovers that change a game.  In order to make Bosco seem mortal, BC must inflict the turnover wounds that have pierced BC's armor for the past decade.

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.

Each day, leading up to Friday's state final game, Dan Long will break down key aspects of the game that are vital for a Bergen Catholic championship victory. Here is a look at the BC defensive line, and the need for a consistent pass rush and run defense on Friday night:

Coming into this season, the BC coaching staff was excited to return a defensive line that had a ton of varsity experience under their belts from the 2010 season, and could provide the necessary pressure each game to disrupt opponent offenses. In their first game of the year the defensive line did not disappoint, sacking LaSalle 4 times throughout their first 3 quarters of play before giving way to the Crusader reserves. Recently in the state semifinals against St. Peter's Prep, the defensive line put on their most dominant performance of the year, sacking the Marauders 5 times on the afternoon, and dictating the play in the trenches. These two outings give a glimpse of the tremendous talent and ability that the Crusader defensive line possess, but they will need to bring their relentless motors and pressure on Friday night in order to get the Crusader defense off the field without allowing points on the board.

The Crusaders were able to only record 1 sack all game long against Don Bosco Prep on September 30th, a fact that has not been lost on the entire BC defensive coaching staff. The lack of pressure in the pocket allowed Bosco quarterback Mike Yankovic all the time in the world to set himself and fire uncontested slant and curl pattern passes to his wide receivers. Without sniffing any pressure in the backfield, Jabrill Peppers and Elijah Shumate ran for 200 combined yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground. There were no hurried throws, no relief for the BC secondary matching up against the Ironmen spread attack, and 33 points later, another win for the Ramsey school. BC cannot afford to let Bosco pass at will again and feast on underneath patterns against the BC Cover 2 formation. They need to have their defensive line play their best games of their collective careers.

Senior defensive end Hunter Kiselick is the emotional leader for the entire team, and is the team's leading sack artist in additional to collecting the most tackles for losses on the year. Kiselick was a man possessed against SPP, seemingly finding his way into the backfield on every snap of the ball. Hunter will need to win his battle in the trenches on Friday night, and find a way to make a difference on several big plays. A strip sack can be the difference in the game, and a deflected pass at the line of scrimmage could generate that interception that seals a game. Ty Charles is starting to regain his solid form before he suffered his elbow injury in Florida, Anthony Davanzo has developed into a reliable run stuffer, while Garrett Dickerson's development is something to behold.

What Kiselick and Dickerson have perfected in recent weeks is the ability to jump up and deflect passes at the line of scrimmage, thwarting screen passes or slant patterns that might go for big gainers. The entire unit plays better when angry, as was evident in the beginning stages of the 2nd quarter pf the SPP playoff game after Dickerson had gotten into it with several members of the Prep offense. This unit cannot afford to sleep walk through the beginning of another game, and play on their heels instead of forcing the action themselves. The defensive line must win the fundamental battles of footwork and leverage, while using power as a tool for penetration.

Friday night will be the final time that 3 members of the BC defensive line will ever don the Red & Gold together, and will be the final time that they attempt to win a state championship together. BC's fate will be connected to the play and production of the defensive line. The last time the Crusaders beat Bosco in the 2004 state final, the defensive line was able to swarm the pocket and force Matt Simms into a host of mistakes and sacks. Kiselick and company need to collapse the pocket and suffocate the Bosco running game, while forcing the passing attack into constant mistakes. It all starts and ends in the trenches, and BC needs to generate constant pressure against a solid offensive line in order to win a title.

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.

Each day, leading up to Friday's state final game, Dan Long will break down key aspects of the game that are vital for a Bergen Catholic championship victory. Here is a look at the BC rushing attack, and the need for a consistent run game on Friday night:

During the golden years of the 1990s, Bergen Catholic built its championship dynasty and its 7 state titles on the back of a dominant running game, usually as the cornerstone of a unstoppable Wing-T offense. Names like Joe DeFranco, Eric Lane, Jim Finn, Jon Piela, Justin Dunleavy, and Rich Scanlon bulled over BC's opponents and routinely found their way into the endzone and into program immortality. BC pinned its championship hopes on their offensive lines being able to dominate in the trenches, while their running backs were able to move the piles and control the flow of the game. The Crusaders will need another signature rushing performance on the ground on Friday night if they want to reclaim their status as the top football program in the Garden State.

While the Crusader offense is completely different from the rush oriented approach from the 90s, the run game is still a central part of an offense that can score with the best around. Sure, the pass happy approach is glorified and made evident in the bevy of passing and receiving records that are falling by the wayside in Crusader Country, but the passing barrage can only be at its deadliest potential when an opponent must honor the run. With a revamped offensive line and new crop of running backs coming into the fold this offseason, BC had its initial growing pains trying to establish a consistent run game against early opponents, combining for only 205 yards on the ground in their two losses against Plant and Don Bosco. Just the threat of a running play can loosen up a defense, and the Crusaders became one dimensional in those two losses and could not reach their usual scoring levels. After walking out of Granatell Stadium in late September, BC knew that in order to get another shot at the Ironmen, the run game needed to be tweaked and confidence needed to be generated from the O-Line and the running backs.

Since that loss on September 30th, BC has won 6 straight games, and their rushing game has become a key factor in their offensive successes. The Crusaders have averaged 174 yards a game on the ground, and during their biggest game of the year so far in the state semifinals against St. Peter's Prep, the Red & Gold ran for 227 yards in the game and had a stranglehold on the game from the 2nd quarter on. Quarterback Jon Germano has significantly picked up his rushing production in recent weeks, nearly matching his yearly totals in the past 3 weeks alone. James Dawson and Mike Gerst always present a speed and shiftiness threat to their running styles, while John Feaster shows a physical running style, coupled with his explosive speed. The O-Line is now moving as one cohesive unit, and is routinely pulling out to block downfield and at the second level, allowing for bigger runs.

In their loss to Bosco in September, the Crusaders were able to only generate 99 rushing yards on the night, and relied on their outstanding passing attack to keep them neck and neck with the Ironmen for a majority of the contest. On the flipside, Bosco rolled past BC on the ground with 258 rushing yards, and saw Jabrill Peppers run for 137 yards. Bosco was able to methodically move the ball against the BC defense because they always knew they could pick up the small yardage on 3rd and 4th downs. BC on the other hand saw a 4th quarter drive and their comeback hopes end when a run was stuffed on a short 4th down conversion. A consistent run game puts added stress and pressure on a defense, and BC needs to find the success they had from the 2010 season.

Last season, BC was able to put up the best rushing numbers in years against Bosco, running for an incredible 202 yards in Oradell, and 168 yards at the Meadowlands in the 2010 state final. Despite those gaudy numbers against one of the best defenses in the nation, the Crusaders still lost both match ups. BC may need to approach those rushing numbers on Friday night in order to hold onto the ball, and keep Bosco's high powered offense off the field at the same time.

It is easier said then done, especially considering the incredible athletes that line up on the Bosco defensive line, but BC needs to dictate their play on the ground, and not solely through the air. If Germano, Dawson, and Gerst can find running lanes, they must hit the holes hard and never hesitate and attempt to run east and west against the Bosco defense. A sustained BC run game will control the clock, allow Germano time to pass in the pocket and work in play action gainers, as well as put doubt in the minds of a vaunted DBP defense. In order to join the 16 other championship teams in BC history, the Crusaders must be able to run the ball efficiently, consistently, and mistake-free. BC's dream ending is 48 minutes away, all they need to do is run to it.

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.