The Bergen Catholic Crusaders (10-1) faced the Donovan Catholic Griffins (9-3) in the non-public A semifinals at Jack McGovern Field (Bergen Catholic High School) in Oradell, New Jersey.
Attended and covered @BergenCathFBall vs. @DonovanGriffins Non-Public A Semifinal game today @ #JackMcGovernField @BergenCatholic #Oradell #NewJersey for @JSNSPORTINGNEWS 🏈 pic.twitter.com/pmmATeajiU
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 18, 2023
Bergen Catholic rolled past Paul VI in the quarterfinals the previous week. Meanwhile, Donovan Catholic slipped by St. Augustine 7–6.
Donovan Catholic put up the game's first points on a defensive play. Bergen Catholic was backed up deep in their end when quarterback Dominic Campanile tossed a pass that resulted in a backward pass. Safety Najee Morgan scooped up the ball and glided into the end zone for the score with seven minutes left in the first quarter.
@DonovanGriffins safety @najee_morgan 10 yd. fumble return against @BergenCathFBall in the first quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/wkfGREBtVC
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 18, 2023
The Crusaders caught a significant break with less than four minutes remaining in the quarter as the Griffins attempted a fake punt in their territory. Bergen Catholic's Christian Gonzalez made a solid tackle before a Donovan Catholic player reached the first down marker.
Working with a short field, Campanile completed a 26-yard pass to tight end John Morris, advancing the ball down to the Griffins' 22-yard line. A pass interference call assessed against Donovan Catholic pushed the ball a little bit further.
Bergen Catholic running back Kaj Sanders got the next three carries, including a 12-yard run that set up a first and goal. Sanders took a handoff and plowed straight ahead into the end zone for the four-yard touchdown that tied the game up at 7-7 with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
@BergenCathFBall running back @kajsanders_ 4 yd. TD run against @DonovanGriffins in the first quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/wBVXB4F7fa
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 18, 2023
Sanders electrified the home crowd in the second quarter, taking a handoff and then sprinting 55 yards to the house for the score that put the Crusaders up 14-7.
@BergenCathFBall running back #KajSanders @kajsanders_ 55 yd. TD run against @DonovanGriffins in the second quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/1WBj1pnlkJ
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 18, 2023
Bergen Catholic quickly extended their advantage to 21-7 in seconds. Griffin's quarterback, Todd Lambertson, attempted a pass into the flat, but Crusaders defensive back Naiim Parrish stepped in front and made the interception. Parrish had nothing but clear daylight as he strode into the end zone for the 26-yard score with 6:20 remaining in the second.
@BergenCathFBall defensive back #NaiimParrish @callmenaii_ 26-yard TD interception return against @DonovanGriffins in the second quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/S6Vg8FDFxr
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 18, 2023
The Crusaders came out blazing in the second half with Campanile completing a pass to wide receiver Quincy Porter. Porter shook off some defensive players with his brute strength and sprinted 60 yards to the end zone, expanding the margin to 28-7 with eight and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
@BergenCathFBall quarterback #DominicCampanile @Domcampanile_ completes a pass to wide receiver #QuincyPorter @QuincyPorter18 over the middle of the field then Porter busts loose to the end zone for the 60 yd. TD against @DonovanGriffins in the third quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/wKHrA2deyT
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 19, 2023
Late in the third, Kaj Sanders brought the home fans out of the bleachers by taking a handoff and motoring his way 78 yards to paydirt, which widened the Bergen Catholic lead to 35-7.
@BergenCathFBall running back #KajSanders @kajsanders_ 78 yd. TD run against @DonovanGriffins in the third quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/DzkvIUse6j
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 19, 2023
Campanile capped off an impressive throwing day by spinning around after rolling out of the pocket and firing a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Luca Cuttita that put a stamp on the Crusaders' dominating 42-13 victory.
@BergenCathFBall quarterback #DominicCampanile @Domcampanile_ 5 yd. TD pass to wide receiver #LucaCuttita @CuttitaLuca against @DonovanGriffins in the fourth quarter. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/Z3GsygdG4e
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 19, 2023
The Crusaders advanced to their third straight Non-Public A Final, where they will battle the Delbarton Green Wave (10-1) on Tuesday, November 28th, at MetLife Stadium, with kick-off set for 8 p.m. Delbarton knocked off Seton Hall Prep in the semifinals, 38-23.
@BergenCathFBall rolls past @DonovanGriffins 42-13 in the Non-Public A Semifinal this afternoon @ #JackMcGovernField @BergenCatholic #Oradell #NewJersey 🏈 @JSNSPORTINGNEWS pic.twitter.com/VUZzX8erBN
— Player Video Interviews By Sunil (@SunilSunderRaj3) November 18, 2023
For more scenes from the NJSIAA Non-Public A semifinal game between Bergen Catholic and Donovan Catholic, check out more of John Hund's photos from the game.
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- Bergen Catholic completes the three-peat in NJSIAA Non-Public A Final win over Delbarton - November 29, 2023
- Red Bank Catholic wins rubber match of the NJSIAA Non-Public B state trilogy against DePaul Catholic - November 29, 2023
