Bergen Catholic holds off Don Bosco, 14-13, on late interception by Greg Mattura of The Record
ORADELL – Pierson Tobia’s one-handed interception with less than 100 seconds remaining enabled Bergen Catholic to finish one point better than Don Bosco.
The junior defensive back’s interception with 1:21 remaining sealed Bergen Catholic’s 14-13 victory over its arch rival in the Super Football Conference on Saturday afternoon at Crusader Stadium.
Bergen Catholic, No. 2 in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 20, led at halftime, 14-10, after junior quarterback Andrew Boel scored on a 1-yard run and senior tight end Tyler Devera caught an 8-yard TD pass from junior Rene Nunez on a pitch-and-pass.
Don Bosco led 10-7 in the second quarter after senior Guy Fava kicked a 29-yard field goal and junior quarterback Jahquil Batts threw a 22-yard TD pass to junior Kyle Monangai. Guy added a 47-yard field goal at 11:49 of the fourth.
Story continues below the highlight video
Jahquill Batts throws a 22-yard pass to a wide open Kyle Monangai to give Don Bosco a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. Greg Mattura, Staff Writer, @gregmattura
“It’s an unbelievable environment, it’s an unbelievable effort by every kid on the field, and it’s Bergen/Bosco,” Bergen Catholic coach Vito Campanile said of arguably New Jersey’s No. 1 football rivalry. “What else can you say?”
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What it means
Bergen Catholic (3-1) should remain No. 2 in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 20, behind St. Peter’s Prep (3-1) of Jersey City, and No. 1 in the NorthJersey.com Non-Public Top 6. This also means that Don Bosco (2-2) is capable of winning a possible rematch in the Non-Public Group 4 playoffs.
By the numbers
► This is the eighth consecutive battle between Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco decided by seven or fewer points, and the Ironmen still lead the all-time series, 38-30-2.
► Bergen Catholic had 270 total yards, with Boel completing 13 of 22 passes for 138 yards, while senior running back Rahmir Johnson carried 24 times for a hard-earned 100 yards.
► Don Bosco totaled 152 yards, with junior running back Jalen Berger the focus of Bergen Catholic’s defense, and he carried 17 times for 63 yards. The Ironmen had more than 100 yards in penalties.
Game ball
It may have to go to Bergen Catholic senior tight end/defensive end Aeneas DiCosmo, who in the first quarter suffered a “broken leg,” coach Vito Campanile said, and had to be assisted off the field. DiCosmo was injured on a first-and-10 from the Crusaders’ 47-yard line after catching a short pass from Boel and immediately being hit and tackled.
They said it
“We lose probably the best defensive player in the state on the first drive of the game,” Campanile said of DiCosmo, “and we have guys just filling in all over the place who just did an unbelievable job.”
“We tried every running play in the book and they just stopped every one,” said Johnson, whose offense was hurt by two fumbles. “We stuck with the plan and eventually we started to break a couple. We just stuck to it.”