Brandon Fernandes vs. Livingston. Photos by Jerry Simon.
BLOOMFIELD – The Bloomfield High School varsity football team keeps on winning.
Not only are they winning, but they are doing it in impressive fashion.
Behind a powerful ground game sparked by senior Brandon Fernandes and and a pair of defensive touchdowns from senior defensive back Myles Toppin, the undefeated Bengals crushed Livingston, 41-20, at Foley Field in front of a Homecoming crowd on Friday night, Oct. 14.
The Bengals improved to a 5-0 record, with each victory by double digits.
BHS, under head coach Mike Carter, has won five straight games to start the season for the first time since its memorable season in 2012 when it started 7-0 en route to winning its first state playoff game while advancing to its first state championship game before finishing 9-3. Last season, the Bengals were 4-0 before suffering its first loss while going on to qualify for the playoffs, finishing 6-4.
In Friday’s win over Livingston, Fernandes rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Toppin also scored on a fumble return and an interception return,
Senior Ky Bowman scored on a 15-yard run, followed by Toppin’s 22-yard fumble return for a touchdown, to give the Bengals a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Senior Victor Saccaro kicked both extra points.
In the second quarter, LIvingston scored on a touchdown pass to cut it to 14-6, but the Bengals answered on Fernandes’ 16-yard run for a 20-6 halftime lead.
Fernandes scored the lone touchdown in the third quarter on a 12-yard run to make it 26-6.
Livingston, which fell to 2-4, opened the fourth quarter with two straight touchdowns to draw within 26-20. But the Bengals regained control. Fernandes had a one-yard touchdown run, and senior Joe Giliberti threw the two-point conversion pass to senior Carlos Afful to extend it to 34-20. Toppin then intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown and Saccaro kicked the extra point to seal the victory.
BHS notable stats
Rushing: Fernandes, 19 carries for 119 yards, three TDs. Senior Zavion Stevens, five carries for 50 yards. Bowman, nine carries for 50 yards, one TD.
Defense: Senior defensive back Barak Pipkins, 6 tackles. Linebacker Fernandes, 5 tackles. Senior LB Danny Carter, 4 ½ tackles. Senior LB Menkare Fleming, 5 tackles. Senior DB Jared Dockett, 3 tackles. LB Afful, 3 ½ tackles. Senior defensive lineman T.J. Cobbert, 2 ½ tackles, 1 sack. Senior DL Ron Vincent, 4 ½ tackles, 1 sack.
Next game: The Bengals will visit East Orange Campus on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Paul Robeson Stadium at 1 p.m. EOC is 3-2.
Bloomfield (5-0)
Sept. 9, Won, at Columbia, 42-6
Sept. 16, Won, Nutley, 39-17
Sept. 24, Won, at North Bergen, 35-7
Sept. 30, Won, West Orange, 29-7
Oct. 14, Won, Livingston, 41-20
Oct. 22, at East Orange Campus, 1 p.m.
Oct. 28, Bayonne, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5, at Morristown, 1 p.m.
Nov. 24, at Montclair, 10:30 a.m.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc5me5aK9IY
Click the link above, see my highlights of NUTLEY VS BLOOMFIELD FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO, 11/5 I will be at Bloomfield vs Morristoen