November 12, 2011

North Bergen celebrates in the end zone after winning in overtime over Passaic Tech. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Passaic County Tech at North Bergen Football Photo Gallery

NORTH BERGEN – Vin Ascolese is rarely at a loss for words. But when it came time to describe his emotions when he ended last night's game with an overtime touchdown, the standout senior couldn't explain what it meant for his team and his family.

In an ending seemingly pulled from the pages of a Hollywood movie script, Ascolese scored the game-winning touchdown on the final play he and his grandfather would have on their home turf as North Bergen defeated Passaic County Tech 20-14 in the first round of the NJSIAA North 1, Group IV playoffs at Vincent Ascolese Field.

"As a family, its unexplainable," the younger Ascolese said. "Me and my grandfather have something rare. For a coach to coach his grandson, someone told me it's the only time its ever happened and for us to keep it going and to still have that shot at a state championship is a hell of a feeling."

"It could have been my last game ever," said an emotional Ascolese, who has coached the Bruins for the past 39 seasons. "It's not."

His grandson ensured that the coach will have at least one more game before he retires at the end of the season when he took a second-down handoff from the 16 and raced towards the corner of the end zone for the game's winning score.

"Bryan Heredia did a great job kicking out the defensive end and I saw a little seam and I saw the cornerback flying in," Ascolese said of his touchdown. "I made a little move outside, took it to the pylon, game over."

"He made a great play," the elder Ascolese said. "It's good for him. It's good for us."

For the younger Ascolese, the score provided some much-needed redemption. He was stripped of the ball on the Passaic Tech 9 with eight minutes left, squandering away a golden opportunity for the third-seeded Bruins to regain the lead.

"I was looking for every opportunity that I could get for that redemption," he said. "If we lost because of me getting stripped, I don't think I'd be able to live with myself to be honest with you. I knew I had to come back, fight through adversity and we had to win this game."

But as it did so many times throughout the night, the North Bergen bounced back to keep its season alive, overcoming four turnovers in the victory.

The Bruins' defense held the sixth-seeded Bulldogs (6-4) scoreless on their last seven offensive possessions. They blocked a potential game-winning Passaic Tech field goal late in the third quarter. In the overtime session, North Bergen stopped the Bulldogs on four-straight plays, the biggest play coming on a third-down sack from Anthony Calabrese.

"I just felt that we could rise to the occasion," said Coach Ascolese, 'that this group of kids could rise to the occasion and they did."

"Our defense came up big for us all year and they came up big for us in overtime," said WR/CB Denzell Leitch.

Ascolese carried the ball 15 times for 106 yards, added 10 tackles and a sack on defense. Eric McMullen carried the ball 22 times for 117 yards and returned the game's opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown.

Isaac Williams had 168 yards on 28 carries for Passaic Tech. Aazaad Hinton recovered two fumbles (one taken back 41 yards for a touchdown) and had an interception on defense.

With the win, North Bergen will get another crack at rival Union City in a rematch of the Oct. 28 slugfest won by the Soaring Eagles. While the Bruins have some revenge on their minds, they were also thankful they and their retiring coach have at least one more week.

"We came back and we won the football game and that's a credit to these kids," the elder Ascolese said. "They want to keep playing so we'll be back for another week."

"We didn't want this to be Coach's last game," Leitch said. "It's his last year and we want to see him go out on top."

Vincent Ascolese has 357 career wins and won his final home game at North Bergen. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Passaic County Tech at North Bergen Football Photo Gallery