OCEAN CITY, NJ - AUGUST 28 - The Crusaders made the 2025 opener a memorable one as Jordan Thomas blocked an East St. Louis punt with just 1:30 remaining.  Amar'e Newell scooped the ball up and scampered 35 yards into the end zone to close a 7-point deficit to just one, 21-20.  After the Flyers called time out, Coach Campanile chose to go for the win, entrusting sophomore QB Trey Tagliaferri with the run-pass option play.  Tagliaferri made the right decision, delivering the ball to Brian Porter who raced across the goal line, giving BC a 22-21 lead which they would possess until the final whistle.
     The Crusaders opened on a strong note as kicker Jacob Soltys drove the opening kickoff deep through the end zone away from the ocean.  After earning a first down, defensive end Jackson Vaughn turned the corner and sacked the ESL quarterback on third-and-long, forcing the punt.  It was the first of Vaughn's three solo sacks on the afternoon.  Tagliaferri took the helm and engineered a 12-play, 54-yard drive capped by a 4-yard strike to Porter.  Soltys' extra point attempt was good and the Crusaders led 7-0.
     Vaughn sacked the quarterback on third and twelve on the last play of the first quarter and the Crusaders were back in business.  After a 10-yard punt, BC initiatied from the 40-yard line.  Tagliaferri started by completing a 7-yard pass to Najee Calhoun, setting up BC's opportunity to get a look at freshman QB Walker Snee.  Snee carried three times, with his first two carries resulting in a 5-yard first down and a 19-yard first down (the longest BC rush of the game).  Two plays later, Najee Calhoun barreled in from the five and after Jacob Solty's PAT, the Crusaders led 14-0.
     At this point, there was a momentum shift (or perhaps ESL just had the wind at its back) and the Flyers put together an 8-play, 65 yard drive of their own, cutting the Crusader lead in half.  With 5:14 remaining in the half, BC drove from its own 16 yard line to the Flyers' 47 before being forced to punt with 24 seconds remaining in the half.  Aidan Talley, pinned the Flyers down to the 12, ending any consideration for them to move the ball in the half.
     BC received the ball to start the third quarter and Dante Kain picked up 9 yards on first down.  Tagliaferri then hit Austin Busso down the near sideline (into the wind) for a 41 yard completion.  Anthony Willis earned a first-down on an 8-yard pitch and run on third and six, followed by Calhoun and Walker Snee picking up a pair of BC first downs.  The Crusaders moved the ball to the 10 yard line before Tagliaferri was sacked, setting up a field-goal attempt for the Crusaders.  The snap shot through the holder's hands and when he tried to gather the ball, he was unable to do so.  An East St. Louis rusher scooped the ball and went 80 yards for a touchdown and after the PAT was good, we had a tie ball game at 14-14.
     Backed up and heading into the wind, the Crusader offense was stymied for the first time all day, going three plays and out.  The Flyers were moving the ball down field and hit a long pass along the far sideline going away from the ocean.  Senior linebacker Timothy Hogan made a saving tackle and two plays later, defensive tackle Jermaine Kinsler punched the ball from the running-back's hands and senior linebacker Mason Marck recovered.
     With the ball on their own  14 yard line, the Crusaders took to the air with Trey Tagliaferri first hitting Dante Kain for a 6-yard gain and then lofting a beautifully spiraling pass to Anthony Willis, who made a sparkling, diving catch for 31 yards, giving BC a first down in Flyer territory.  The third quarter ended and BC continued to move the ball with Kain, Calhoun, Willis and Busso.  BC got as deep as the 29-yard line before being stopped on downs.
     Senior cornerback Xavier Jackson broke up a first-down pass attempt before the Flyers took to the ground.  Three-straight running plays yielded 22 yards, setting the ball up at the 49.  From there it was just one play as junior, five-star University of Texas commit Myson Cook-Johnson sprinted 49 yards around the left end to pay dirt, giving ESL a 20-14 lead.  After a successful PAT, Eastside led 21-14.
     Jordan Thomas fielded a short kickoff and returned it 10 yards to the BC 36 yard line.  After generating a first down, the Crusaders were forced to punt with 4:11 remaining in the game.  Aidan Talley got off a booming punt which sailed 40 yards before bouncing toward the end line.  The speedy Amar'e Newell came up just short of being able to save the ball and down it inside the one, and one could tell, he wasn't satisfied.  He was going to make a play before this day was over.
     The Flyers drove the ball to the Crusader 49, bringing them to a critical call on 3rd and 7 with 1:35 remaining and BC out of time-outs.  ESL decided to try a pass, which Jordan Thomas broke up, stopping the clock at 1:23 in the game.  The ESL punt team entered the field and Thomas blocked the punt, setting up Newell to once again show off his exceptional speed and make the critical play of the game.
     After watching this football game, one could not help but come away recognizing these were two exceptional football teams and for those paying attention, there is still a good 1:13 or  so remaining before this article is finished.  ESL executed a short and screen passing game very efficiently.  Finally with 33 seconds remaining, Jackson Vaughn sacked the ESL QB and following an illegal forward pass penalty, the Flyers were down to their last play.  The Crusaders engulfed the scrambling QB and the clock ran out.