October 24, 2010
Tavarez breaks out for NB
Sophomore Debray Tavarez scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass.
Click Here for more photos from North Bergen at Lincoln.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – With a deep and talented collection of running backs ahead on the depth chart, North Bergen’s Debray Tavarez has spent most of the season on the sidelines waiting for an opportunity.
When the Bruins’ called upon Tavarez in the second half, the sophomore proved more than ready for the task. Tavarez scored two touchdowns as North Bergen punched its ticket to the state playoffs with a 33-20 win over Lincoln yesterday at Caven Point.
“I worked my way up,” said Tavarez, admitting it hasn’t been easy having to wait for his chance. I work hard every day, go to practice, don’t brag and just do what the coaches tell me to do.”
“Debray is a good football player,” head coach Vin Ascolese said. “He’s a kid who’s got a future. We know he’s a player. There’s no doubt he’s a player.”
Tavarez took over as the feature back for the Bruins (5-2) midway through the third quarter and immediately made his presence felt. With North Bergen up by just one point, Tavarez had a key 14-yard run on a third down option. He then hauled in an 11-yard pass from Peter Ramanand on fourth down and two plays later capped off the scoring drive with a touchdown catch from six yards out.
“On offense I was a little nervous at first,” Tavarez said. “But I just picked up my pace and played my game.”
Tavarez put the finishing touches on the victory and the Bruins’ 22nd state playoff berth in 23 years with a 25-yard touchdown run with just 2:07 left in the game.
He finished with 49 yards on just six carries (all in the second half) and two receptions for 17 yards. Tavarez, who says he’s stronger on the defensive side of the ball, also intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards late in the second quarter.
“He was doing his thing and came up big,” Ramanand said. “In two years he’s going to probably be the best player in the county. As a sophomore he’s already making big plays.”
A back-and-forth affair, North Bergen took the lead for good midway through the third quarter. Ramanand completed a short pass to Justin Glennon, who then broke multiple tackles en route to a 62-yard touchdown and a 21-20 lead.
“We did some good things on defense, we didn’t blow any assignments, we just missed tackles,” Lincoln head coach Robert Hampton said. “We were right where we were supposed to be on every play. It was just missed tackles and a lack of fundamentals.”
It was the second of three touchdown passes for Ramanand. He connected with Denzell Leitch on a 58-yard score and completed 8-of-13 passes for 177 yards. Ramanand added 74 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Ramanand wasn’t the only dual-threat signal caller on display as the Lions’ Ronald Butler countered with 177 passing yards on 8-of-19 passing and 49 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Trailing 14-12 at the half, Butler put Lincoln (5-2) back on top when he teamed up with Anthony Jackson for a 59-yard touchdown in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
After the score, the Bruins’ defense held firm the rest of the way, keeping the Lions off the scoreboard on four consecutive possessions to protect a seven-point lead. Lincoln’s last chance to tie the game was stopped when linebackers Vinny Ascolese and Anthony Calabrese brought down a scrambling Butler for a loss on a fourth down with less than three minutes left in the game.
North Bergen recorded four sacks and forced three turnovers. RB/WR Christian Adorno added 118 all-purpose yards in the victory.
Jackson led all receivers with three catches and 80 yards for Lincoln. Deshawn Goodwin had 60 total yards of offense and a touchdown, while Tyron Stevens had 53 rushing yards in defeat.
The Lions look to bounce back on Saturday when they face off with in-city rivals Snyder at 1 p.m. The Bruins will host Union City preview on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Lincoln's Dayvon Selron (right) makes the tackle and had a sack in the game.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Bergen Bruins (5-2) | 8 |
6 |
13 |
6 |
33 |
| Lincoln Lions (5-2) | 6 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
20 |
| NB: Safety | |||||
| NB: Peter Ramanand, 21 run (kick failed) | |||||
| Lin: Deshawn Goodwin, 6 run (run failed) | |||||
| Lin: Ronald Butler, 12 run (pass failed) | |||||
| NB: Denzell Leitch, 58 pass from Ramanand (run failed) | |||||
| Lin: Anthony Jackson, 59 pass from Butler (Butler run) | |||||
| NB: Justin Glennon, 62 pass from Ramanand (Mike Mentor kick) | |||||
| NB: Debray Tavarez, 6 pass from Ramanand (kick failed) | |||||
| NB: Tavarez, 25 run (pass failed) | |||||