Bergen Catholic Offense Shines in Victory Over Delbarton

The Bergen Catholic Crusaders (6-1) achieved a second consecutive week of scoring over 40 points, dominating the Delbarton Green Wave (3-4) with a 42-7 victory at Jack McGovern Field/Crusader Stadium, Bergen Catholic High School, in Oradell, New Jersey.

Bergen Catholic's defense set the tone early in the first quarter with a fierce pass rush from linebacker Joshua Cruz, who delivered a crushing hit on Delbarton's quarterback, causing a fumble that defensive lineman DeAndre recovered at the Green Wave's 38-yard line.

Mixing both the running and passing game effectively, the Crusaders advanced the ball deep into Delbarton territory. On second-and-goal from the three-yard line, running back Najee Calhoun took the handoff and powered into the end zone for a touchdown with five and a half minutes remaining in the quarter.

Delbarton quickly responded during their second offensive possession. Quarterback Gavin Gilardi completed a pass to Matthew Tafuri, who sprinted up the middle, cut right, and raced into the end zone for an impressive 81-yard touchdown with less than four minutes left.

The back-and-forth action continued as Bergen Catholic answered with quarterback Trey Tagliaferri throwing a 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Austin Busso, allowing the Crusaders to reclaim the lead at 14-7.

In the second quarter, Bergen Catholic's defense generated another turnover when defensive back Jordan Thomas intercepted a pass. Despite being backed up deep in their own territory, the Crusaders' offense remained unfazed. Tagliaferri connected with wide receiver Bryan Porter for a spectacular 89-yard touchdown pass with under ten minutes to go in the half.

With just 49 seconds remaining in the half, Bergen Catholic found itself again backed up in its own territory. However, Tagliaferri completed a pair of crucial passes to Porter, including a 36-yard gain that got them out of danger and into Delbarton territory. The dynamic duo of Tagliaferri and Porter struck again with a 15-yard completion that moved the ball inside the red zone.

As time was winding down, Tagliaferri linked up with Austin Busso for an 18-yard touchdown pass with just four seconds left on the clock, further extending their lead.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, Bergen Catholic shifted its game strategy by focusing on the running game, with Najee Calhoun carrying a majority of the workload. The Crusaders' offensive line dominated, leading to substantial yardage gains. Once they reached Delbarton's 35-yard line, the passing attack resumed, with Tagliaferri finding Porter for a 13-yard gain.

On first-and-ten at the 22-yard line, Tagliaferri spread the ball around effectively, connecting with wide receiver Anthony Willis, who spun around and glided into the end zone for another touchdown.

Defensive standout Jordan Thomas showcased his talent by intercepting a second pass in the game and returning it to the Green Wave's 15-yard line with five minutes remaining.

Bergen Catholic capitalized on this turnover, as Najee Calhoun scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from five yards out, sealing the dominant victory.

The Crusaders will return to action on Saturday, October 25th, hosting the St. Joseph Green Knights (5-2) in a highly anticipated matchup at Bergen Catholic High School, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. Delbarton will also be in action that day, facing the DePaul Catholic Spartans(5-2) at the same time.