Becton Regional High School (6-0) senior quarterback Joe Crifasi said the team wanted to set a tone early in the NJIC Championship Game against Waldwick/Midland Park(4-2) at Riggin Field in East Rutherford, NJ. Pointing to a dominant defense that had yet to allow a point the season while the offense tallied 149 points.
When Crifasi mentioned said starting off strong, he could have not dialed up a more perfect scenario in the first quarter. The Wildcats wasted no time getting on the scoreboard early on. Crifasi launching a 63-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Marcus Duran 16 seconds into the game.
“We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game, we just had to think of ways of make that spark,” said Marcus Duran. “I just ran up there, made a move outside and then inside and Joe(Crifasi) threw me a perfect ball.” He leads our offense and makes us all better. Even in practice they don’t like saying it but he is a very good leader. He shows ways if there is an opening and tells that receiver or a certain route so he can make that perfect throw.”
Special teams’ play factored into Becton’s next score two and half minutes later. Senior Cencir Becton fielding a punt at the Wildcats 35-yard line, managing to blast through a number of tacklers and sprinting down the left sidelines for the touchdown. After the Wildcats defense forced a quick three and out, Bacote displayed his speed once again returning a punt down to the Warriors 18-yard line. The explosive plays continued with Crifasi heaving a perfect pass down the middle of the seam to senior wideout Ryan Reid in the end zone.
Late in the second quarter it appeared as though Waldwick/Midland Park might break up the shutout streak. Starting out at the Wildcats 30-yard line after recovering the ball on a backwards pass with less than eight minutes remaining, the Warriors offense methodically moved down the field eating up seven minutes of the clock. However, with the ball at the six-yard line the Becton defense hunkered down allowing three more yard. Facing a fourth down play with 46.2 seconds remaining, a pass play into the end zone was knocked away by junior defensive back Sonny Ragusa.
In the third quarter, the Wildcats defense continued to wreak havoc with Marcus Duran picking off a pass on the first offensive series for Waldwick/Midland Park and returning the ball to the Warriors 10-yard line. On second and goal from the eight-yard line, Crifasi took the handoff, went to his right before coming back to his and barreling through the line to stretch the ball across the goal line for the score with less than 10 minutes left.
A lot of our defenses are based off two corners, Cencir(Bacote) and Marcus(Duran),” said Head Coach Jack Maher. “Pound for pound Cencir is the strongest kid we have and you put him up in the weight room and he’s probably stronger than all of our lineman.” Having him and Marcus it’s an experience factor and feel like teams are not going to get outside and edge on us and forces everything back inside.”
“I love the offensive line, they just mean so much to me and obviously don’t get as much credit and deserve everything,” Joe Crifasi explained. “Four of them started last year and them coming back made me feel great about this season and felt safe the whole year.”
With less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Warriors offense finally broke through and snapped the Becton shutout streak as junior quarterback Russell Pigg scored on a six-yard touchdown run. Once again the Wildcats flashed the quick strike capability on their ensuing offensive series, Crifasi tossing a pass to senior Tyler O’Connor in the flat, O’Connor doing the rest by eluding a couple of tacklers and sprinting down the left sidelines 56 yards to pay dirt with 29.6 seconds remaining.
“Joe(Crifasi) has been our leader on and off the field, a very quiet player but he is a hell of a football player with the football in his hands,” Becton Regional High School head coach Jack Maher described. “Every play offensively he makes good decisions, he doesn’t turn the ball over many times in six games and maybe one pick and one fumble he got back.” Not turning the ball over was my number priority with him, he gained a lot of experience last year, in the top three or four in passing yardage and touchdowns in North Jersey. This year he is nowhere near, we had a little talk with the whole team last night and seniors got to speak a little bit. I said to the whole team that nobody cares about stats on this team, not one kid has asked about how many yards and I thought about that last night and it just shows how selfless they really are.”
On the ensuing kickoff, the Warriors were not expecting a squib kick that worked to the favor of the Wildcats favor in recovering the ball at the Waldwick/Midland Park 38-yard line. On the first play in the fourth quarter, Crifasi cemented an impressive night accounting for five scores with his second rushing score of the night, a seven-yard run that widened the advantage to 41-6. For the game, Crifasi completed 7 of 11 passes for 190 yards, three passing and two rushing touchdowns.
Sealing the 41-12 victory over Waldwick/Midland Park, NJIC Championship Title and undefeated season Duran intercepted his second a pass as time expired on the scoreboard thus setting off a thunderous celebration at midfield.
“We have been waiting for this, they started as freshman and sophomores and took their lumps,” Jack Maher noted. “Our goal was to play at Met Life(Stadium), a couple of years ago we actually took the kids when we were in the second round of the playoffs. We climbed up the steps and looked out at the stadium which is certainly a momentum thing.”
“Personally for me these kids have been the best distraction, it’s definitely been a tough month or so for me and my family.” “Actually missed a couple of practices but to be able to come down here and get my mind off things and working with a great group of players and coaches.”
Joe Crifasi on the undefeated season and NJIC Championship Title, “It means a lot, we’re a pretty small school and don’t get as much as recognition as we should.” “I think this season we could play and it showed and deserve the credit we get.” Obviously being a senior we’ve worked our way up since freshman and sophomore years when we started and our team was so young. My sophomore year we had three seniors, we were all starting and to get here is so special.”
“Obviously we started a month later, we’ve been in the weight room over quarantine but not in the weight together as a team since February or March.” “So our priority this year was to be the fastest team out there and looking at our defensive line we have two receivers and running back that is unusual but it still works and our work ethic is just crazy.”
“Coach Maher is one of the strongest men, coming off a tragedy and still coming to practice.” “I can’t describe the respect I have for him and the fact we were his therapy means a lot me because we had to help him.” “It’s corny to say how football is just like a family but this team is really my second family and I’m sure it’s for him too.”
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