Aidan Mack runs for yardage after making a reception.
WEST ORANGE, NJ — On Saturday, Oct. 23, the Seton Hall Prep football team hosted Bergen Catholic at Brendan P. Tevlin Memorial Field in West Orange. This game was a matchup of teams that were both highly ranked in the state: Bergen Catholic, No. 1 and sixth nationally, and Seton Hall, No. 3.
This game went back and forth until the Crusaders pulled away late in the fourth quarter and defeated the Pirates, 38-28, before an estimated crowd of 4,000.
Bergen Catholic opened the scoring with a touchdown with 9:26 left in the first quarter. Senior linebacker Jackson Dowd intercepted his fourth pass of the season on the Bergen Catholic 23-yard line and returned it to the 8-yard line. Three plays later, senior quarterback Jaden Craig ran it in from the 5 and senior kicker Nick Conforti added the first of his four extra points to tie the score with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Pirates took the ball over on downs and drove 75 yards in nine plays with Craig scoring from the 3-yard line to give the Pirates a 14-7 lead.
Bergen Catholic tied the score with 3:41 left, and that score remained until the Crusaders took a 17-14 lead on a 19-yard field goal with 7:09 left in the third quarter. The Pirates retook the lead, 21-17, with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard run by Craig after a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Bergen Catholic retook the lead, 24-21, on its next possession with 10:30 left.
On their next possession, the Pirates regained the lead at 28-24 with 6:25 left. The big play was a swing pass from Craig to senior Myles Thomason as he ran down the left sideline 57 yards for the touchdown.
Bergen Catholic scored the final two touchdowns with 6:04 and 1:12 left in the game.
Following the game, SHP head coach Bill Fitzgerald said, “All the kids played their tails off today. What we have learned this season is that we belong among the top-tier United Red clubs. This was a tremendous atmosphere.”
SHP game stats:
Craig, 19-32 passing, 282 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions; Thomason, 6 catches, 100 yards, 1 touchdown.
Defense: senior defensive back Matthew Monteleone, 17 tackles; Dowd, 13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception; senior linebacker James Palaia, 12 tackles; junior defensive back Darren Burton II, 11 tackles; sophomore defensive back Jaylen McClain, 10 tackles.
Notes: Many Seton Hall Prep alumni attended and were very excited about the Bergen Catholic game, and some of the older alumni were very impressed with the entire Kelly Athletic Complex. On Friday, Oct. 29, the Pirates will travel to Wayne to take on DePaul Catholic High School in their final regular-season game. On Sunday, Oct. 31, the NJSIAA Non-Public A football committee will meet in Robbinsville to seed the state tournament.
Photos Courtesy of Rich Morris/SHP
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