Nunzio Campanile talks things over with the BC Red Team (courtesy Ralph Dickerson)

DUNCAN, SC---The 2013 Palmetto State Showdown certainly ended sooner than both Bergen Catholic teams had wanted, as both the Red & Gold teams bowed out in their first playoff games. But you would have to say that the tournament was once again a success for the Crusader program.  BC chooses to compete in this prestigious tournament in order to compete against some of the finest talent in the country, and the high competition level prepares BC's players for the grind of a demanding regular season schedule that takes them all over the country.  Here are my final thoughts after watching all the action thanks to Play On Sports:

-The two-team system proved to be both a blessing and a curse during this tournament for the Crusaders.  Having two teams in this year's tournament allowed a lot of players the chance at playing time, and this may ultimately help to develop more offensive/defensive options for the upcoming fall.  On the other hand, the two team system also prevented BC from putting out their best collective 7 players at one time on the field, as other schools did during the weekend.  BC held a draft to pick their two squads, rather than doing what some other schools did, and just load up their "A" squad with varsity talent while leaving the "B" team with JV players.  This gave both teams balance, but may have been their undoing in the playoff round.  Nonetheless, a lot more BC players got the chance to experience a great playing opportunity this weekend, and most importantly, got the chance to compete at a high level.

-It had to be a tough pill to swallow for the Gold Team, as they lost their first playoff game as the #2 overall seed.  This team finished (8-3) for the tournament, and really played with a confidence on both sides of the ball.  I know its only a 7 on 7 tournament, but it was refreshing to see the defense flying around the field, and be staunch in the secondary.  BC needs to play better this year on defense than they played in 2012, and an entirely new defensive approach may just be what the program needed.

-Kyle Vadis, JP Garcia, and Garrett Dickerson were just a couple of Crusaders who really shined down South.  Vadis emerged as the go-to receiver for the Gold team and made a lot of huge plays on the outside.  BC is looking for someone to be a threat down the field on the outside this year on offense, and Vadis certainly made his presence known this weekend as he looks to win the job.  JP Garcia is a clutch player who has a knack for making big plays in pressure situations.  In a game against Union County (SC), Garcia intercepted a pass, then caught a clutch touchdown in between two defenders, and finally hauled in the PAT, all in a span of 40 seconds.  Garcia is a perfect leader for this team, and hopefully his work ethic is contagious for all the other young Crusaders to emulate.  Finally, Garrett Dickerson again showed glimpses of his dominance as a tight end, and his potential continues to be off the charts.  If Garrett can play with the same swagger he showed in this tournament during each game this season, then every BC tight end receiving record will be wiped away this fall, and BC will be a contender for a state crown.  These three players will play a big part in the fate of the 2013 Crusaders, and all three are off to great starts.

-I wouldn't be shocked if this quarterback competition lasts the entire summer, as each Crusader QB produced in South Carolina, and are worthy of more chances to win the job.  Because of the 7 on 7 rules, we could not see the running arsenals of each quarterback, and how they could manage the offense on the run, but from the pocket we got to see decision-making, accuracy, and arm strength.  There is no clear favorite in the clubhouse yet, but it should be interesting to see who emerges with the whole package in the upcoming weeks.

-BC's linebackers looked fast and in tremendous shape down in Duncan, and will need to be impact players this season, rather than BC having to rely just on their vaunted defensive line and improved secondary.  Jake Campbell looked strong in his return to his middle linebacker position, and should prove to be the anchor of that unit.  We'll find out who'll emerges on the outside, but there are many options to choose from for the BC coaches to mull over.

-It's great to hear the respect that BC has garnered at this event over the past couple of summers, as it is another example of how BC is branding itself around the country.  There is a buzz around the Crusaders when they compete, not only as the lone contender from the North, but because they have consistently won games at this 7 on 7, and have done so without having the luxury of some of the highest ranked players in the nation on their sidelines.  The Crusaders play a tough brand of football, and use their intelligence and talents to beat opponents who are blessed with better pure athletes.  I hope BC continues to play in South Carolina, because the competition they play is invaluable, and the experience especially prepares the younger players for the national travel that the upperclassmen have come to expect within a BC football season.

-Finally, I'm curious to see what these performances do for the rest of the summer for members of the program.  Will the early exits by both BC teams fuel players to pick their games up another notch, or will some be content with what they did in pool play?  Will BC generate momentum going into next weekend's Rutgers 7 on 7 tournament, or will the idea of playing against other Garden State foes not excite this young team after playing against some of the best from the South?  Which player will become the next Crusader to have their coming out party at the varsity level, and stake their claim for serious playing time this fall?

There is a lot to be excited about for the young Crusaders after their performances this weekend, but there is still a lot of work to be done.  But isn't that what the summer is all about!

ABOUT DAN LONG

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

The BC Gold team looks on during one of their games on Friday in Duncan, South Carolina

DUNCAN, SOUTH CAROLINA---Bergen Catholic once again has a team near the top of the standings after the first day of competition at the Palmetto State 7 on 7 Showdown, and both Crusader teams remain in the thick of the hunt for a team title in a loaded 20-team field.  The BC Gold team finished Day 1 with an impressive (6-1) record, which would place them in a tie for second place overall, behind undefeated Byrnes A.  The BC Red team finished (3-3-1), and closed out their day with a lopsided victory that will hopefully carry momentum over to Saturday morning's games.  Seeing that I am not in South Carolina, and am basing my thoughts on the plethora of BC games I watched all day long online courtesy of Play On Sports, here is what I saw from the Crusader teams.

-Breakout Performer: #13 Kyle Vadis (Sr-Wide Reciever)  Kyle has followed in the footsteps of John Tsimis and JJ Kulcsar before him, and has had his coming out party while down in Duncan.  Vadis was all over the field, and routinely in the endzone on Friday, and has become the go-to receiver for the BC Gold team.  Whether it was hauling in tough catches across the middle, or burning his defenders down the field for countless 40-yard touchdowns, Vadis was a man possessed, and his play has to excite the BC coaches and fans. Vadis has always shown great potential, but it is clear that after years of learning behind Tsmis and Kulcsar, Vadis is ready to show what he can do on the outside.  It will be interesting to see if he'll have to make any adjustments on Saturday to new coverage schemes and top defenders placed in front of him after the buzz about his game circulates around the other tournament teams, but for right now, Kyle Vadis is the story for the Crusaders down South.

-Most Feared Crusader: #8 Garrett Dickerson (Sr-Tight End) Garrett and all of his accolades are certainly known already by the two broadcasters calling the games online, and this respect was understandable after Dickerson's performance in the Red Team's first game of the day against Valdosta A.  Dickerson was unstoppable as he picked apart the secondary and had his way against a variety of defenders.  The chiseled senior showed off his athleticism, speed, and hands on Friday, and may be asked to try to do even more on Saturday in order to push his squad deep into the playoffs.  When opponents start to double team you in 7 on 7 competitions, you know that you're doing something right.  In order for the Crusaders to have a big year this fall, Garrett Dickerson has to continue to take his game to another level.

-Checking Out the QB Competition: By including two teams in the tournament field this summer, head coach Nunzio Campanile has allowed four different quarterbacks the opportunity to earn precious reps against quality competition, and each candidate showed off their strengths on Friday.  On the Gold Team, senior Colin McGovern and junior Mike Aniello were strong in leading the Crusaders to 6 wins in 7 games.  McGovern was able to use precision passing to move drives and find receivers in the back of the endzone, while Aniello uncorked a couple of beautiful 40-yard bombs which caught receivers in stride for scores.  On the Red Team, junior Corey Gaarn used his deft touch to split defenders and find seams for his receivers, while sophomore Jarrett Guarantano used his strong arm to move the ball down field quickly and efficiently.  As is expected with a tournament littered with great athletes on defense, all of the BC QBs had their share of mistakes on Friday, but the coaches have to be happy that there are few question marks at the most important position on the field.

-Interceptions that Sealed the Deal: The BC Gold team won two games on Friday afternoon in thrilling fashion, thanks in part to timely interceptions with less than a minute remaining in the games.  Against North Gwinnett (GA), senior JP Garcia took away an intended fade pass in the corner of the endzone, and managed to tap one foot in bounds, and guaranteed his side a win in their first game of the day.  JP is no stranger to dramatic interceptions in a season, and his play today just seemed to give his team the confidence that fueled them to a hot start.  In their final game of the day against Greenville (SC), senior De'Shuan Morris jumped on a pass at the goal line and sealed the game for the Crusaders.  Morris is in his first season with the Crusaders, and is quickly making a name for himself in the BC secondary.

On the Horizon:  Saturday will present each Crusader team with three more pool play games before the playoffs are seeded for the single-elimination tournament.  The Red Team (3-3-1) is in the middle of the pack, and will be looking for a strong finish on Saturday morning in order to garner a favorable seed.  The Red team will play Greenville (SC) at 8:30 am, South Durham (NC) at 9:40 am (streamed live), and Byrnes A (SC) at 11:25 am.

The Gold Team is in position to possibly secure one of the top four seeds in the tournament, and needs to continue to play with confidence early on Saturday morning.  The Gold team will play Byrnes A (SC) at 8:30 am, Union County (SC) at 9:40 am (streamed live), and Berkeley (SC) at 11:25 am.

After that, all teams will be seeded for the playoffs, and hopefully both BC teams get a chance to go deep in the tournament.  Games will be streamed again at www.playonsports.com on Saturday, and in order to watch the action live, fans must again purchase a subscription.

ABOUT DAN LONG

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

Two BC squads will compete down in South Carolina during this weekend's 7 on 7 tourney

ORADELL---The 2013 Bergen Catholic Football season began with Sunday's first summer practice at Crusader Stadium, but the season will officially kick off with a pair of 7 on 7 tournaments that the Crusaders will participate in over this weekend.  Over 40 members of the varsity program will travel down to Duncan, South Carolina for the third consecutive season to participate in the Palmetto State Showdown, while members of the BC sophomore class will compete at the Hasbrouck Heights 7 on 7 tournament as well.

For the first time ever, BC will field two teams at the 20-team event, and will look to replicate the successes they enjoyed during last summer's tournament.  In 2012, the Crusaders shocked the rest of the prestigious field by going undefeated in pool play on their way to the top overall seed for the playoff round.  BC advanced all the way to the championship game, where they locked horns with tournament host and national power, Byrnes High School, who the Crusaders had defeated earlier in pool play.  The Rebels outlasted BC (25-21) the second time around, on their way to a tournament title.  BC's Jon Germano was named co-MVP of the entire tournament, and Kyle Queiro was awarded Defensive MVP honors.

The 2013 tournament field includes 20 total teams from 17 different high schools hailing from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and New Jersey.  As was the case with last year's tournament, the winner of the 2013 Palmetto State Showdown will advance to the National 7 on 7 Tournament held at Hoover, Alabama on July 25-26.  The Palmetto State Showdown has garnered a reputation for hosting some of the best collective talent in the country, as countless future Division I players have competed in the event over the past 6 years.

"We bring our team to this tournament because we believe the competition is unmatched," said Nunzio Campanile.  "It's a great challenge to our players and an excellent way to kick off our summer.  It is a first class event with incredible organization and true hospitality.  We hope to come back every year."

7 on 7 tournaments focus solely on skill players on both sides of the ball, as there are no lineman used during play.  Defenses need only to touch an offensive player with one hand to whistle the play dead, as there is no tackling allowed.  The field is only 40 yards long, and each offense needs to move the ball 15 yards in 3 plays in order to keep their drive alive.  A touchdown is worth 6 points, and then the scoring team can attempt a 1 point PAT from the 5-yard line or go for 2 points from the 10 yard line.  Defenses can generate points of their own, as every interception counts as 3 points, and a turnover on downs is worth 1 point.  Teams play two 22 minutes halves, and each team will play 10 pool play games before advancing to the single-elimination playoff round.

Crusader fans will get their first chance to some new faces in BC uniforms, and witness what is expected to be a very competitive summer at several important positions on offense, defense, and special teams.  BC fan can watch streaming broadcast coverage from South Carolina courtesy of Play On Sports on the following link: WATCH HERE

Updates will also be provided on the BC Athletics Twitter Account which can be seen on the right side of the screen.

ABOUT DAN LONG

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

Join Nunzio Campanile at the 2013 Crusader Football Camp this summer at Bergen Catholic!

ORADELL---The 2013 Crusader Football Camp will be offered over two weeks this summer at Bergen Catholic for all athletes ages (8 to 14). The camp focuses on developing skills, sportsmanship & success for the future football stars of tomorrow.

The camp will feature two separate sessions in Oradell:

July 15-19

July 22-26

For more information and to sign-up for the 2013 Crusader Football Camp, please open the camp brochure in the following link:

2013 Crusader Football Camp Brochure

The 2012 Bergen Catholic Crusaders will be remembered for their share of classic games

ORADELL---The 2012 Bergen Catholic football season can be best summarized as an absolute roller coaster ride, with the high and lows coming with every snap of the ball.  The season ended last Friday night with another painful close loss, but the year cannot be examined just with the result of the championship game, we must all take time to step back and be witness to how extraordinary this season was in the context of the program's history.  We can then be able to see the good alongside the bad, and realize the part this season will play for the future of the Crusader football program.  It was one wild ride, and in the end it speaks to character of the young men who so proudly represented Bergen Catholic each and every time they stepped onto a football field.

BC was able to humble St. Anthony's, the reigning state champs in New York in their season opener, before handing Bishop Gorman their only defeat of the 2012 season in their own backyard and on national television.  The pouring in of alumni support from around the country was incredible for the players and for the program, and spoke to the immense pride and passion that exists for BC football, especially now as the Crusaders have branched out to the national stage.  If fans around the nation had never heard of Bergen Catholic before this season, this year's team has successfully put the BC football program on the map thanks to their tremendous game in Las Vegas.  But as the Crusader faithful were sky high after that win in the desert, we all experienced a crushing low the following week back in the Garden State against a long-time rival.

Thanks to a blistering start which saw St. Joe's jump out to a (21-0) lead in the first half, the Crusaders had to claw their way back into the game, which they did, and eventually took a lead on the road in the second half.  The teams traded scores, but it looked like BC was primed to take a commanding lead late in the contest before a fumble changed the entire complexion of the ball game.  Despite this crushing set back, BC still was resilient enough to force overtime.  In OT BC came up one point shy of forcing double overtime, and had to stomach a cruel loss in Montvale, which left BC's ego bruised and beaten for the first time in the year.  That game would prove to be a microcosm of the entire 2012 season.

BC got healthy in their following two home games against Passaic County Tech and DePaul Catholic, defeating these two Wayne schools with relative ease, as the Crusaders attempted to regain the same swagger they displayed on the national stage earlier on in the season.  But just as it looked like BC had righted the ship, they produced a lack-luster performance at Crusader Stadium against Cocoa High School from Florida, which still proves to be the one head-scratching game from the season, and the largest loss of the year for the scarlet & gold (10 points).  BC desperately needed a week off to clear their minds and get re-focused on the season at hand, especially with a match up against archrival Don Bosco Prep waiting in the wings.

As part of an emotional and classic contest, the Crusaders and Ironmen played in front of over 7,000 fans at Overpeck Park as the highlight of the Bergen County Fair.  Bosco forced two late BC turnovers which proved to be the difference in the game, and once again left the Crusaders wondering what they needed to do to finally beat Don Bosco Prep.  BC needed to regroup quickly, as they had a date with Friendship Academy awaiting them down in  Washington D.C. the following weekend, and the Crusaders were in desperate need of a victory.  Following the crippling events of Hurricane Sandy, BC journeyed down to the nation's capital to take on a team that was littered with extraordinary talent and hungry to make amends for their loss to BC in the previous season.  Despite a chaotic chain of events late in the game, BC once again had the character and poise to force overtime with a late field goal, and would claim victory in OT thanks to a defensive stop and an offensive score.  This emotional victory fueled BC into the playoffs, and had them playing their best football of the year.

Notre Dame didn't stand a chance in the Non-Public Group 4 quarterfinals, as the Crusaders played their most complete and well-rounded game in quite some time as they prevailed (63-0) at home.  BC marched confidently into their Thanksgiving day match up with Paramus Catholic, and used forced turnovers and savvy 4th down execution to get past the Paladins on the road.  That set the Crusaders up with yet another shot at the six-time reigning state champion Ironmen, a foe that had not beaten in eight long years.  In front of yet another large crowd under the lights in Ramsey, BC received a perfect start to their game and jumped out in front (21-0) in a blink of an eye.  After responding with two consecutive scores, DBP had closed to withing one score late in the game and had their fans believing that another epic win over BC was in the cards, but the Crusaders would crush these hopes at a comeback thanks to a Bryan Smith interception and JJ Kulcsar touchdown catch.  The celebration which followed the game will forever be remembered as being epic for the entire BC community, and made grown men cry in jubilation.

Oh what a difference a week makes.

Last Friday the Crusaders followed a familiar script from their 2012 season of falling behind early, only to rally later and put themselves in a position for a victory.  The roller coaster ride of a state final ended yet again in despair and dejection, rather than celebration and exultation.  The dream ending was not meant to be that night, but this season will be remembered for the amazing amount of close games which left us all breathless.  The touchdowns, the ESPN-shown catches, the interceptions, the kickoff recoveries, all of these made for an incredibly special season in Bergen Catholic football history.

I would like to thank all the BC coaches and players for allowing me to take this crazy ride with them, from the summer time until the state final at MetLife Stadium.  They provided me with an in-depth look at their amazing commitment and love for the BC football program, and each and every person affiliated with the program have honored the BC name with their actions.

I would like to thank all the BC parents, families, and friends who have sacrificed so much so that their excellent student-athletes can wear the scarlet & gold each week, and compete against the best in the nation each and every week.  Your support inspires me to do more at BC, and furthers to strengthen my belief in the special quality that is inherient in every Bergen Catholic parent.

While this season may not have ended the way we had all hoped for, it will still go down in history for the extrordinary moments and people it produced.  We were witness to Jon Germano and JJ Kulcsar each rewriting the offensive record books in Oradell, and saw a senior class finally lead the Crusaders to a win in Ramsey over Bosco.  What this team leaves is a foundation for the future, and a model that the younger Crusaders need to follow in order to get all the way back atop the Non-Public Group 4 mountain.

Future Bergen Catholic champions are being forged from the fires of the 2012 football season, and these leaders will return stronger and more confident thanks in part to what they endured this past fall.  This will be remembered as an extremely special season, and I wish everyone the best for the Holiday season and in the New Year.

Don't hang your heads BC fans, for tomorrow belongs to the 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.

Friday night proves to be the chance at greatness for this season's BC senior class

ORADELL---For the Bergen Catholic senior football class, Friday night will be a culmination of four extraordinary years of experiences donning the scarlet & gold on the football gridiron.  In this season alone, the seniors have helped to rewrite the BC record books, seen the program emerge on the national stage with an impressive victory broadcast around the country, produced a miraculous play that has gone viral on the web and on ESPN, and have been the ones to finally snap the 8-year losing streak to Don Bosco Prep.  There is only one more thing needed to cement the seniors' place in BC football history: win the 2012 Non-Public Group 4 state championship.  Tonight, the Crusaders will get their shot at program immortality in front of thousands of fans at MetLife Stadium.

The road to the Meadowlands has had its fair share of bumps on the way.  After returning home from a scintillating victory against Bishop Gorman, the Crusaders suffered a heartbreaking overtime defeat in Montavle by a single point to St. Joseph Regional.  Then Crusader fans were left scratching their heads after a listless performance against Cocoa High School left the Crusaders with a rare loss at home, and already with 2 defeats on the season.  Couple that with another close loss against Don Bosco Prep in front of over 7,000 fans at Overpeck Park, and the Crusaders had their egos bruised and staring at a (4-3) overall record heading into their final game before the playoff cutoff. Following the events of Hurrican Sandy, these Crusaders have not been the same, and that has been a testament to the leadership of the BC senior class.

Following the devastating storm which ravaged the Garden State, BC took to the field for practice as they still had to play a game when the rest of the state suspended play.  The team traveled down to the nation's capital to take on a Friendship Academy side littered with Division I talent, and looking to make amends for their own poor performance the week before against Paramus Catholic at Rutgers University.  With a game full of momentum swings, the Crusaders found themselves trailing late in the game, and with everything pointing towards a third straight defeat on the season.  But the BC senior class would not allow this to happen, and instead drove down the field before tying the game on a Ryan Rose field goal.  The BC defense would shut the door in overtime, and allow the offense to deliver the walk off score that sent the Crusaders back north with an emotional victory.  This clutch victory changed the season, and seemed to wake up the sleeping giant in Oradell that so many were expecting to see after impressive wins against St. Anthony's and Bishop Gorman to begin the year.

With a week off under their belts, the Crusaders produced an amazing all-around performance in the quarterfinals against Notre Dame, shutting out the Irish (63-0) at Crusader Stadium.  Then came a much ballyhooed match up at Paramus Catholic on Thanksgiving which saw the Crusaders weather a spectacular performance from Jabrill Peppers, on their way to a two touchdown victory.  Most recently, BC took out eight long years of frustration with a solid (28-14) win in Ramsey, and helped them punch their ticket for their third straight appearance at MetLife Stadium.  Just when you think BC is up against it, they have always found a way to bounce back and stay the course thanks to their senior leaders.  The team is playing its best football of the season because of the confidence and trust shown to them by the hard-working BC coaching staff, who knew that through the tough times this season, the team would ultimately emerge as a battle-hardened squad.

Friday night presents the Crusaders with a chance to make their own history as a senior class and as a team as a whole.  A victory would forever identify the class of 2013 as being the ones who brought back the championship trophy to Crusader Country for the first time since 2004.  This team would carve its own niche in BC football lore as the 17th state championship team to ever walk the halls.  A win would cap off the most demanding schedule in program history in perfect fashion, and put BC back atop the Non-Public Group 4 mountain.  For these seniors who have helped to rebuild the program in head coach Nunzio Campanile's model, Friday night is a chance at greatness and immortality as a class, and a fate that these young men deserve.

They are stewards of Crusader history, and are respectful of those who have put on the BC jerseys before them.  The seniors see the big picture, and have always understood that they play for all their families, friends, and alumni.  They compete to honor the tradition that is alive all around Crusader Stadium, while at the same time try to place themselves in the pantheon of Crusader championship teams and players.  It is about one thing, and that's getting a ring.

So, as they take to the field one last time as Bergen Catholic senior football players, these band of brothers understand the enormous sacrifices that each have paid to be at this point in time, and to be at the edge of glory.  All the devoted time, the aches and pains, the highs and lows, all of it has been done to get this one last chance at greatness and a chance to be the best.  This Friday night the BC class of 2013 will represent Bergen Catholic on the grandest stage imaginable in NJ high school football, and you can expect them to produce the same type of championship performance that has epitomized this team all year long.

It's time for this BC senior class to leave with a bang, along with some new hardware on the bus ride back to Oradell.

Deus Vult.

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 Crusaders have made it back to MetLife Stadium for the third straight year, and for the first time in recent memory BC will not face Don Bosco Prep on the opposing sideline.  This will be the first time since 2001 that BC will play someone other than the Ironmen in the title game, back when the Crusaders defeated Delbarton in the 2001 state final (10-9) at Rutgers University.  On the 20th anniversary of their previous postseason showdown in "The Game of the Century", BC will lock horns with Paramus Catholic, a team they faced less than two weeks ago on Thanksgiving.

Paramus Catholic (9-2): having beaten Delbarton (36-23), DePaul Catholic (35-13), Demarest (54-7), Ridgewood (42-10), St. Joe's (44-35), Friendship Academy (DC) (37-20), Northern Highlands (55-7), Paul VI (49-9), and St. Peter's Prep (21-0).  Their two losses were against Don Bosco Prep (31-8) and Bergen Catholic (35-21).

The Paladins bounced back from their Turkey Day loss at home to BC with a dominant defensive performance in their (21-0) shutout victory against St. Peter's Prep in the semifinals last weekend in Paramus.  The victory punched PC's ticket to their first state championship game since 1997, which also happens to be their lone state title in program history.  In order for PC to claim their second ever football trophy, these players need to shine on the biggest stage come Friday night.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

# 5 Jabrill Peppers (QB/RB/DB)-Just like Bergen Catholic, Peppers will be making his third consecutive appearance in the state finals at MetLife Stadium, and would love nothing more than to leave with his third consecutive state title.  The dynamic Peppers ran for 232 yards and 3 TDs against BC on Thanksgiving, with most of that damage being done in the first half of play.  If there was one player in the state who could take over a game by himself it would be PC's #5, and you can expect that Peppers will be on the field for at least 90% of the game on Friday night.  He will make his share of jaw-dropping plays, but BC must make him earn it with prolonged drives, rather than with huge game-breaking runs.  Peppers may need to run for even more yards this time around in order to help his team win, and may look to assert himself even more on defense as a game changer in the secondary.

#10 Marquise Watson (SR-MLB/FB)-Watson had a great game against BC last time, accounting for a game-high 16 tackles and was routinely in Jon Germano's face in the backfield with his barrage of blitzes.  On offense, Watson will be called on again to be the primary blocking fullback for the Paladin wildcat offense.  If Watson can once again find success in getting routinely to the quarterback, he may be the deciding factor in slowing down the Crusader passing attack, and forcing huge turnovers.  If BC can get a blocker on Watson's blitzes, that will open up the middle of the field for slants and crossing routes.  Watson is the emotional leader for the PC defense, and will be counted on to find a way to contain BC's opportunities on offense.

#51 Khylini Kennedy (SR-DE)-Kennedy is a pass rusher on the edge and has a way of breaking past blockers in order to get to the quarterback.  The Crusader offensive line will look for a better performance this time around against the Paladin defensive front, and if they can slow down Kennedy's pass rush abilities, that will open up chances down the field for Germano.  What makes Kennedy a duel threat is his ability to also stop the run, which BC could not truly get going on Thanksgiving against PC despite their 50 carries on the day.  Kennedy will need to wreak havoc and collapse the pocket in order to take some pressure off of his own secondary.

#1 Tyronne Washington (JR-WR/DB)-Washington may not get the same headlines as Keyon Washington, but he may be a huge factor for PC's chances on Friday night.  Washington will be lined up against either JJ Kulcsar or John Feaster when on defense in the Paladin secondary, and and will need to make some plays at wide receiver in order to prevent the BC defense from just loading up the box against the wildcat run formation.  Washington has the speed to run with BC's receivers, but will need to avoid costly penalties when jockeying for position down the field.  If the Paladin secondary can force some turnovers, they can easily swing the game's outcome in their direction, but they cannot take too many chances or they'll get burned for big BC plays.

THREE KEYS FOR BC

• Dictate the Tempo-If BC is able to get out to another fast start, it will be awfully difficult for the Paladins to play catch up considering their wildcat-based offense.  The BC defense has a chip on its shoulder after allowing so many rushing yards in the first meeting, and needs to play fast, physical, and smart while staying in their proper lanes.   The offense will continue to play at their fast pace and look to wear down the Paladins throughout the game considering how many PC players are playing both ways.  A fast start will just continue to fuel BC's confidence following last weekend's win over DBP, and may give them the chance to run out and never look back.

• Play Your Game-The worst thing that BC players can do on Friday night is to try to do too much.  The coaching staff has crafted the right game plan, and now the players have to just go out and perform the same way they have during their 4-game win streak.  They need to continue to play with a swagger and a trust in one another, and be loose.  They pressured Bosco into mistakes, and were able to take full advantage because of their attention to detail and execution.  Just because this is the title game at MetLife Stadium should not change things for the Crusaders, as they just need to go out and perform with a sense of urgency and purpose and use their strengths as a team to win.

• Finish What You Started-Since the sweltering summer months, a state championship has been this team's ultimate team goal, and now the Crusaders are 48 minutes away from accomplishing this dream.  From the game's opening whistle, BC needs to play as a team possessed by this end goal, and make sure to leave everything out on the field in all facets of the game.  The Crusaders are taught to compete whenever they step on a football field, and this must be done throughout the entire game, and not allow PC any chances to flip the game with momentum-turning plays and emotion.  BC's win last week means nothing if they cannot finish the job on Friday, and this team understands that fact.  This BC team is focused on the goal at hand, and now just need to finish what they started.

Everything is there for the taking for both sides, as we will have a new state champion in Non-Public Group 4 for the first time since 2005.  Will BC be able to use its experiences in big games to push past a PC team looking to cement its place in the pantheon of North Jersey football powers?  BC needs a great all-around team effort on Friday night, and they are prepared to deliver a championship-worthy performance.

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.

Jon Germano will look for one last great offensive performance on Friday night (Yelland photo)

ORADELL---Under head coach Nunzio Campanile, the Bergen Catholic Crusaders have been known for their high-powered offense, and their uncanny ability to generate a lot of points in a variety of fashions.  The BC offense has eclipsed the 50 point mark a total of 11 times in Campanile's 34 career games as the head of the Crusader football program, and the team averages over 40 points a game during this same tenure.  This Friday night, BC will once again look to deliver early and often on the scoreboard if they hope to capture their first state championship since 2004.

While the old adage has always been, "Offense wins games, defense wins championships", this Crusader team feeds off the momentum that the offense seems to generate.  The defense has grown by leaps and bounds in confidence in their last 4 games, turning opponents over regularly and putting the ball immediately back in the hands of the deadly offense.  But while the defense has been able to make a name for itself in the second half of the year, it has been the offense which has always kept opposing coaching staffs up at night.

The Crusaders have scored 460 points through 11 games, scoring at an average of 41.8 points per game.  When they get into a groove, no one can slow them down, as was evident in the 1st half of last week's game against Don Bosco Prep.  Sure they were handed short fields for two of their first three scores of the game, but the Crusaders still were able to find the end zone thanks to a new found running attack which routinely caught the acclaimed Bosco defense off guard, and did not have to settle for field goals because of an inefficient attack.  Late in the game, when in search of a game-sealing moment, the Crusaders went back to their vaunted passing attack, and the formidable duo of Jon Germano and JJ Kulcsar.  When BC is able to dictate the tempo on offense, very few teams can keep close.

Friday night's game will again provide the Crusaders with one final chance to dictate a game's tempo with their balanced offensive game plan.  Quarterback Jon Germano has played like the best offensive player in the state all season long, accounting for a total of 44 touchdowns this fall (35 passing, 9 rushing). It will be up to Paramus Catholic to find a way to fully disrupt Germano's ability to break down an opposing defense, whether in the air or on the ground.  The Paladins were able on Thanksgiving to routinely collapse the pocket enough to force Germano out of his comfort zone and either throw sooner than he wanted or just tuck the ball away and run.  Still, despite having a man in his face all morning long, Germano managed to throw for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns, while adding 40 yards of offense on the ground in the process.   BC's offensive leader showed his moxie in his clutch performance last week against the Ironmen, and will look to close out his career with a bang at MetLife Stadium on Friday.

In their last 7 championship appearances, the well has run dry a bit when it comes to point totals.  The Crusaders are averaging just under 14 points a game in those 7 title games, which explains BC's (2-5) record in that span.  In their previous three title appearances in the late 1990s, the Crusaders were able to average 41.7 points per game, and subsequently captured all three titles in 1996, 1998, and 1999.  It is huge to have a solid defense that can keep you in a game, but it is just as important to have an offense that can finish an opponent off as well.

The Crusaders certainly have the weapons on the offensive side of the ball, and their confidence is at an all-time high, but it does not mean that they will overlook their opponent.  Despite allowing 35 points to BC on Thanksgiving, the Paladins were able to force two Crusader interceptions in addition to a pair of turnover on downs deep in Paladin territory, and BC is well aware of PC's ability to bend and not break.  It is up to the receivers to run precise routes, the running backs to run down hill, and for the offensive line to own the trenches.  In order to win on Friday, the offense has to be able to do what they have done best this season, which is putting up a lot of points.

BC's offense has been able to put big numbers up on great teams, including the 59 points vs. St. Anthony's, the 42 points against Bishop Gorman, the 37 points against St. Joe's, and the 48 points against Friendship Academy.  They can catch fire at a moment's notice, and allow their defense to take more chances knowing that they'll have some points to work with during the game. Friday night is their last chance to make a statement, and to help power the school to the 17th state title in BC's illustrious football history.  This unit shares a special bond and trust in one another, and an unselfish identity that leads to a plethora of playmakers all over the field.  This mix of depth, talent, determination, and unselfishness has fueled BC to the finals, and the Crusaders will look for one more trademark offensive performance in order to help bring the hardware back to Oradell Avenue.

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.

Every BC fan seemed to be soaking in the win on the turf on Friday (James Yelland photo)

It is still amazing to think about what transpired on Friday night in Ramsey, considering the recent history of frustrating losses against Don Bosco Prep, and how BC always seems to not be able to get out of its own way against the Ironmen.  This time around BC were the ones to make the big plays in the clutch, and were in fact the better team when the final whistle blew.  Now the Crusaders march on to MetLife Stadium for the third-straight year, with their 17th state title once again in their sights.  Here are my final thoughts from BC's historic victory on Friday night:

-Jon Germano played like NJ's Gatorade Player of the Year, and it was easy to see that he just would not allow Friday night to be the final game of his amazing career.  Whether it was his threaded touchdown passes, his physical finish on his touchdown runs, or his incredible pass breakup in the secondary, Germano left everything on the field and did whatever was necessary to make sure it would not be 12 straight losses to the Ironmen. Despite the euphoria surrounding him, Germano still was one of the first ones to say how the team still needs to win 1 more to finally accomplish their end goal in 2012.  Who would not want to play alongside this proven leader?

-So much for the idea that the BC defense could not get it done when it matters the most.  The defense was once again solid in forcing turnovers on the day, and keeping Bosco to only two scores in the game.  Even when it looked like momentum was clearly on the home sideline, Bryan Smith came to the rescue, and made the defining play of his career with his interception which helped set up BC's insurance touchdown late in the game.  The defense forced 3 turnovers, recorded 5 sacks, and held DBP well under 100 rushing yards on the night.  This is not a dominant-style defense that shuts opponents out, but it is a unit that can change the course of a game with forced turnovers, and bends but does not break.

-I have never seen something quite like the 1st quarter on Friday night, as BC possessed the ball for the entire 1st quarter and managed to run 29 offensive plays before Bosco could even possess the ball.  Ryan Rose must be paid credit for his perfect short kickoff placement which allowed his teammates to run down in time to recover one kick on a bounce and the other after a fumble.  The Crusaders made headlines with their onside kick proficiency in 2010 and 2011, and now this season have used the short angled kickoffs to their advantage in limiting big returns while also giving themselves a chance to make a recovery.

-The win in Ramsey was BC's first since 1990, when the Crusaders handed Bosco a (14-7) loss in the regular season.  Both sides would not meet again in Ramsey until the 2000 regular season, and BC had lost the last 6 meetings at Granatell Stadium since the resumption of the annual rivalry in 1999.

-If you are a playoff opponent, try to catch BC outside the semifinal round, because the Crusaders are money when they need one win to advance to a state final.  With the win over Bosco, the Crusaders are now (26-6) all-time in the semifinal round, and have now punched their ticket to their 27th all-time appearance in the state championship round, the 2nd most championship appearances in state history behind St. Joe's Hammonton's total of 30 in the lower Non-Public sections.

-This season will mark the first time that DBP will not appear in a state final since 2001, when Bergen Catholic defeated Delbarton (10-9) at Rutgers University for a state title.  It will also feature only the 2nd all-time playoff match up between BC and Paramus Catholic, with the first coming 20 years ago in the Parochial A State Final, in a game dubbed "The Game of the Century" by The Record which BC won (44-34).  BC's head coach Nunzio Campanile was involved in that game as the starting safety in the Paladin secondary.

-Who would have honestly thought that Bergen Catholic would win on Friday night, and by double digits, if you were told that the BC passing offense would only generate 74 passing yards against the DBP defense?  BC was committed to their powerful triple option running attack, and always took advantage of the short fields after their crazy kickoffs.  BC's red zone offense proved to be the difference, and allowed the team to play with incredible confidence all game long.

-There is now only one more streak to snap, and that's BC's current three-game losing streak in the Non-Public Group 4 State Finals dating back to the school's last state championship in 2004.  All three of those losses came against Don Bosco Prep, and BC will certainly have experience on its side heading into this Friday's game against Paramus Catholic.  The Crusaders will be playing at MetLife Stadium for the third straight season, and at this point are used to playing under the lights in front of large crowds.  PC on the other hand will be playing for the first-time ever at MetLife Stadium, and in their first state final since the Parochial 3 final against Delbarton in 1997.

Stayed tuned all week long for my coverage leading up to Friday's state championship game.

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 Crusader Crazies will be headed to MetLife Stadium for the state title game on Friday

ORADELL---The 2012 Non-Public Group 4 state championship game will be on Friday December 7th at MetLife Stadium at 8:00 pm. Bergen Catholic (8-3) will face Paramus Catholic (9-2), who defeated St. Peter's Prep in the semifinal round (21-0) at home on Saturday afternoon.

This game will mark only the second-ever postseason meeting between the two schools, with the previous game being the 1992 Parochial A North State Final, dubbed "The Game of the Century" by the The Record, which the Crusaders won (44-34).  This will be Bergen Catholic's 27th all-time appearance in a state championship game, where the Crusaders have gone (13-13) in the big game. This will be the 3rd state finals appearance for the Paladins.

Check back all week for articles and analysis getting everyone Crusader fan ready for the final game of the 2012 Bergen Catholic football season.

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.