The Bergen Catholic Crusaders (10-1) pulled off an incredible comeback 20-14 overtime win over the St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) Green Knights (6-5) at Jack McGovern Field/Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey.
@BergenCathFBall defeats @SJRFB in a overtime thriller, 20-14 in the Non-Public A Semifinals this afternoon @BergenCatholic #Oradell #NewJersey @ONNJSports 🏈 pic.twitter.com/JuzN22pEav
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) November 23, 2024
Scoreless at the end of the first quarter, St. Joe’s broke the stalemate 11 seconds into the second. Running back John Forster took a handoff from quarterback Lamar Best and plowed straightforward into the end zone for the 13-yard touchdown.
@SJRFB running back #JohnForster @johnforsterr 13 yd. TD run against @BergenCathFBall in the second quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/R1FJENG1sL
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) November 23, 2024
The Green Knights’ defense was smothering for most of the first half, forcing Bergen Catholic to punt the ball away on their first four offensive possessions.
Late in the second quarter, the Crusaders managed to move deep into St. Joe’s territory on a 20-yard run by running back Dante Kain. However, the Green Knights’ defense dug in and forced a 31-yard field goal attempt, but Guytano Bartolomeo’s kick sailed wide left.
St. Joe’s had the ball near midfield in the third quarter with less than ten minutes left. The Green Knights kept the drive alive by converting a fourth down play.
A drive that featured seven consecutive runs got switched up when quarterback Lamar Best fired an 11-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Mekhi Rossignol with five minutes left, extending the advantage to 14-0.
@SJRFB QB @LamarBest12 fires a 11 yd. TD pass to WR #MekhiRossignol against @BergenCathFBall in the third quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ldByv0rWqz
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) November 23, 2024
On the ensuing Bergen Catholic offensive possession, which started at the 22-yard line, the Crusaders’ offense fired on all cylinders by mixing up the running and passing plays that moved the ball into St. Joe’s end of the field.
Bergen Catholic faced a crucial fourth down at the Green Knights’ 26-yard line, but quarterback Dominic Campanile completed a pass to wide receiver Quincy Porter, who spun around and reached the 15-yard line for the first down.
Crusaders running back Najee Calhoun then took a handoff from Dominic Campanile and barreled down to the St. Joe’s one-yard line. With the clock about to hit zero, Campanile surged across the goal line for the score.
@BergenCathFBall QB #DominicCampanile @Domcampanile_ 1 yd. TD run against @SJRFB as the third quarter ends. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/vm3qSHBdo4
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) November 23, 2024
With a shade under nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Bergen Catholic had the ball at their 24-yard line—the Crusaders followed the blueprint of their scoring drive by combining running and passing.
Bergen Catholic capitalized on another fourth-down conversion as Dominic Campanile completed a pass to wide receiver Anthony Perrotti. Najee Calhoun gets the bulk of carries and runs the ball six times. However, on a jet sweep, it was wide receiver Bryan Porter who gained 17 yards and advanced the ball inside the ten-yard line.
On second and goal at the two-yard line, Dominic Campanile took the direct snap then churned straight across the goal line for the touchdown that completed a 12-play, 76-yard drive and chewed up over five minutes of the clock and tied the game up at 14-14.
@BergenCathFBall QB #DominicCampanile @Domcampanile_ 2 yd. TD run against @SJRFB in the fourth quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/5aAmXbruea
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) November 23, 2024
The game headed to overtime, and the Green Knights had the first crack at scoring on offense. Bergen Catholic’s defense was stifling, forcing two incomplete passes and Lamar Best short of the first-down marker on the run. St. Joe’s opted for the 37-yard field goal, but kicker Salvatore Salafia’s kick went wide left.
The Crusaders were excited with adrenaline and wasted no time pushing the ball. Najee Calhoun took the handoff and darted down to the Green Knights’ one-yard line.
Calhoun capped off the remarkable comeback victory by taking the handoff from Dominic Campanile, smashing straight ahead, and standing up into the end zone for the touchdown, which set off a wild and jubilant celebration in the end zone and on the field.
@BergenCathFBall celebrates 20-14 overtime win over @SJRFB in the Non-Public A Semifinals with @CraziesNation @BergenCatholic 🏈 pic.twitter.com/GP11Zz6Uvm
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) November 23, 2024
Bergen Catholic aims for a four-peat when they meet the Don Bosco Prep Ironmen (8-3) in the Non-Public Group A Final on Friday, November 29th, at Met Life Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
