WEST ORANGE, NJ — On a beautiful homecoming Saturday afternoon at Brendan P. Tevlin Memorial Field, the Seton Hall Prep football team defeated Bayonne, 35-6. Sept. 25 marked the first time the Pirates have faced the Bees since 1960, and the Pirates improved their record to 4-1 on the season.
On the opening drive of the game, Seton Hall went 56 yards in 6 plays, and senior Jalil Bowen bullied his way in from the 2-yard line for the touchdown with 9:27 left in the first quarter. Senior Nick Conforti added the first of his five extra points to make it 7-0. The touchdown was set up when senior wide receiver Mac McAteer made a spectacular one-handed catch at the 2-yard line.
Following a Bayonne punt, the Pirates drove 48 yards in six plays and Bowen scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:30 left, for a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. On the drive, senior quarterback Tyler Marion hit two passes to senior wide receiver Nick Dunneman for 27 yards.
In the second quarter, Bowen scored his third touchdown on a 21-yard run, Marion hit Dunneman on a 19-yard scoring pass and junior Andrew Daly had an 8-yard run to give the Pirates a 35-0 lead at halftime. Bayonne scored its touchdown with 7:45 left in the fourth quarter.
Notes: At halftime, the 1981 Seton Hall Prep State Championship football team was honored by the school. They were 11-0, and their team consisted of many all-state players and current Seton Hall Prep Hall of Famers. Two of the captains from that team, Pete Reavey and Frank Gagliano, participated in the coin flip. On Friday, Oct. 1, the Pirates travel to Paramus to take on Paramus Catholic for a 7 p.m. kickoff. SHP rankings: Star-Ledger, No. 5 in New Jersey; USA Today Network, No. 7 in New Jersey Top 25.
Stats:
QB – Marion – 8-10 passing 112 yards. 1-TD, 1-Int.
RB – Bowen – 12 carries, 112 yards,. 3-TDs.
RB – Daly – 8 carries, 55 yards, 1-TD.
WR – Dunneman – 5 catches, 70 yards,. 1-TD.
LB – Senior James Palaia – 6 tackles.
LB – Senior Jackson Dowd – 4 tackles, 1-sack.
Seton Hall Prep (4-1)
Aug. 28: Win, vs. Pope John, 51-7
Sept. 3: Win, at Union City, 48-7
Sept. 11: Win, vs. Don Bosco Prep, 20-7
Sept. 18: Loss, at St. Peter’s Prep, 22-21 double overtime
Sept. 25: Win, vs. Bayonne, 35-6
Oct. 1: at Paramus Catholic, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16: at Delbarton, 1 p.m.
Oct. 23: vs. Bergen Catholic, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29: at DePaul, 7 p.m.
Photos Courtesy of Rich Morris/SHP