Bergen Catholic stages late comeback to knock off St. Peter’s Prep 22-15
Meeting for the 27th time in a fierce rivalry that was tied at 13-13 on an overcast and windy Saturday afternoon at Bergen Catholic High School/Jack McGovern Field the Bergen Catholic Crusaders (5-1) and St. Peter’s Prep game definitely lived up to the billing.
There were plenty of interesting storylines heading into the match-up, the Marauders coming off a tough loss at Seton Hall Prep on Monday and final game for Head Coach Rich Hansen. Meanwhile the Crusaders sustaining a last second loss at home to Don Bosco two weeks ago and last week game postponed at Delbarton shortly before kickoff due to COVID issues.
Receiving the opening kickoff, the St. Peter’s Prep offense got off to a strong start, quarterback Tahj Bullock engineering a 10-play, 73-yard drive that chewed up over four minutes of the clock resulting in Bullock lofting a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sha’zir Sullivan.
Late in the first quarter, Bergen Catholic started out at their own 46-yard after the Crusaders special teams unit partially blocked a punt. It turned out to be a two-man show on the drive with junior quarterback Steve Angeli and junior running back Ryan Butler churning out yards via passing and running. With time about to expire, Angeli took the handoff and sprinted towards the left corner of the field before sneaking just inside the pylon.
Even with the Marauders holding the advantage of time of possession in the first half 12:00 to 8:00, Bergen Catholic needed one play to take the lead. Angeli launching a 65-yard touchdown pass in stride to Butler with less than eight minutes remaining.
“We had practiced that play a lot this week,” said Ryan Butler. “We knew that it had the potential to be a really big play and Steve(Angeli) put it right on me and then just did the rest scoring the touchdown.
In the third quarter, both teams’ had difficulty moving the ball that resulting in trading punts. The action finally picked up at the end of the quarter with Bullock completing a 35-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylan Sanchez.
Early in the fourth quarter, Bullock connected on a 37-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Sam Slade. After a couple of penalties were assessed against the Bergen Catholic defense that moved the ball closer to the goal line, Hansen decided to send the offense back on the field. Employing some trickery after the snap of the ball, Sha’zir Sullivan tossed a perfectly placed pass to Bullock in the end zone that made it 15-14 St. Peter’s Prep with 11;16 remaining.
Starting out at the 17-yard line with 11:10 to go, the Bergen Catholic offense relied solely on the tandem of Angeli and Butler. On fourth down and one at the Marauders 30-yard line, Angeli completing a key eight-yard pass. Amassing 47 yards on 13 carries through the first three quarters of play, Butler turned into beast mode. Running the ball 14 times for 68 yards, Butler capped off the game-winning 19-play drive barreling through the line for a two-yard TD with less than two minutes left.
“They really stepped up and the thing I’m really proud of is no penalties and just being efficient of finishing the drive,” Head Coach Vito Camapnile explained. “Stevie(Angeli) did an unbelievable job, we had practiced that play(fourth down and one at the St. Peter’s Prep 30) and he is strolling to his backside with an unblocked guy and I don’t think people really understand as a quarterback how hard of a throw that is and just unbelievable.”
“We talked about that all the time with Ryan(Butler) and stuck to that philosophy.” “The first time I saw him in seventh grade I said he is one of the toughest kids on the field.” He is an alpha dog amongst alpha dogs and just a passionate kid. He wants to win and those things once he gets that look in his eye.”
Ryan Butler on the game-winning TD run, “I just told the offensive line give me a little something(running lanes) and I’ll keep getting the first downs and we’re going to come out with this win if we just end up getting the first down and score.”
Going for the two-point conversion, Angeli scrambled out of the pocket and threaded the needed with a pass to wide receiver Christian Carti in the back of the end zone.
One last opportunity for the Marauders to tie the game up with 1:47 on the clock, the Bergen Catholic offense hunkered down, forcing Bullock into throwing four straight incomplete passes that sealed the Crusaders 22-15 victory.
Butler finished the game with 27 carries for 115 yards while Angeli completed 7 of 13 passes for 125 yards and rushed for 63 yards on 14 carries. Bullock was limited to 47 yards rushing while completing 9 of 22 passes for 156 yards. Bergen Catholic held the running duo of Paul Lefkowitz and Sam Slade to 18 combined rushing yards.
Ryan Butler on the win, “We knew it’s going to be tiring, still got to push through and last game of the season so we have to put it all out there and eventually come out with the win.” “We have had this core since freshman year, we have been pushing it and just have a lot of young players and going to be scary for years to come.”
Head Coach Vito Campanile on the victory and Rich Hansen, “This was a championship game by both teams’, those guys(St. Peter’s Prep) are an unbelievable program and I have so much respect for Rich(Hansen).” Hard watching his last game and I have known him since I was 12 years-old. I knew him when I was a player in middle school and a life well spent. Being a coach’s kid myself, my Dad being a coach and so many epic games against him and he does everything the right way.”
“We felt it’s going to be hard at times but we fought back.” “We got so many resilient guys that who care about each other so much and show up every day.” We lost Jayden Bellamy and Jaeden Gould, power five players in the first quarter. We talk every week around here you never know when your role is going to change. I’m so grateful our kids got the opportunity to play.”
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