Oradell, N.J. — Bergen Catholic needed a dramatic second-half rally and overtime to keep its hopes alive for a fourth consecutive state title, defeating long-time rival St. Joseph 20-14 in Saturday’s Non-Public A semifinal.
The game was tied at 14-all after regulation, and junior running back Najee Calhoun sealed the victory for the top-ranked team in New Jersey with a 1-yard touchdown run in overtime. “It was just relentless effort from everyone, and a team that truly cares about one another,” said Bergen Catholic head coach Vito Campanile. After starting the overtime possession at the 25-yard line, Calhoun carried the ball three times. His first two runs of 21 and 3 yards set up a second-and-goal at the 1-yard line, where he punched it in for the win.
St. Joseph had the ball first in overtime but came up short. Junior quarterback Lamar Best, who had returned from a collarbone injury, threw two incompletions, ran for five yards, and then saw senior kicker Sal Salafia miss a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Bergen Catholic, ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY New Jersey Super 25, overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to extend its state-leading 25-game winning streak against in-state opponents. Senior quarterback Dominic Campanile, the coach’s son, led two long scoring drives in the second half. The first was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter, and the second was a 2-yard score with 3:54 left in regulation. “Just straight-up toughness at the end,” said Campanile. “We wanted it more. We’re family at the end of the day. We’ve got grit, and we’re going to finish this thing off with a four-peat.”
St. Joseph (6-5) had a strong start, leading 14-0 midway through the third quarter. Best, in his first game back after missing time due to injury, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Mekhi Rossignol.
The Green Knights’ defense was stifling in the first half, and they took a 7-0 lead into the break after senior running back John Forster’s 13-yard touchdown run with 11:49 left in the second quarter.
“It hurts,” said St. Joseph head coach Augie Hoffmann, in his first season back leading his alma mater. “Our guys gave everything they had, and I’m proud of them. Bergen had a great second half. Hats off to them. They increased the pace, did some great things, and we didn’t answer when we needed to.”
Bergen Catholic, the three-time defending Non-Public A champion, will face Don Bosco (8-3) for the state title at 8 p.m. Friday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, in the finale of a Thanksgiving weekend quadruple-header.
