Oradell, NJ—One of the biggest game of the year for Bergen Catholic had a emotional twist on a bright Saturday afternoon.
Jack McGovern who was the Crusaders’ athletic director, as well as a player, was celebrated in an pre-game ceremony on Saturday, in which Bergen Catholic unveil its brand new turf field which was named in his honor. McGovern passed away at age 61 last October after a long stint with cancer.
McGovern was looking down on his beloved Bergen Catholic as No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, rolled past Paramus Catholic 37-0 at the newly-named Jack McGovern Field in Oradell, New Jersey.
“What he means to us. I never considered Jack a boss, I considered him to be more of a mentor and somebody that you could lean on,” coach Vito Campanile said, who was hired by McGovern in 2018. “I’m forever indebted to him, and I just think his values and what his family meant to him, and what this school meant to him is everything that’s right with Bergen Catholic.”
Bergen Catholic (3-0) moved the ball down the field on their open possession and looked like they were going to punched it in for a score but quarterback Steven Angeli threw a interception in the end zone and gave Paramus Catholic (0-3) momentum momentarily.
Steve Angeli jump started the offense with an 84-yard pass to Jayden Bellamy on the first play in the third quarter for the Crusaders.
“I felt like it was something that we really hammered home last week,” Campanile said. “The thing I’m most proud of is I think we played hard. I was very, very disappointed last week- and we talked about it in practice every day- I think when we got ahead we kind of thought that because we have a shiny gold helmet, that we were going to win. It doesn’t work that way. Not in this league. They’re a really talented team and they’re coming together, and they’re going to be scary down the stretch.”
Bergen Catholic had a great day against the Paladins but they also had a guardian angel looking down on them and giving them favor.
Jack McGovern will never be forgotten at Bergen Catholic.
