November 20, 2011

Bergen Catholic's Chucky Wingate (1) and Mike Gerst (21) celebrate after a touchdown. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

St. Peter's Prep at Bergen Catholic Football Photo Gallery

ORADELL – When St. Peter's Prep lost to Bergen Catholic three weeks ago, the Marauders walked off that field wondering if the better team had truly won that night.

This time, after suffering a convincing 42-21 loss to their Bergen County rivals in the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group IV semifinals the answer was painfully clear to the Marauders' head coach.

"Today, unlike the first game, I think the better team won," Rich Hansen said. "They were definitely the better team today and they definitely deserved to win."

After a back-and-forth start, everything would come crashing down for third-seeded Prep (6-4) midway through the second quarter as the host Crusaders scored 21 points in a span of 8:39 to put the game out of reach.

Junior QB Jon Germano regained the lead for second-seeded Bergen Catholic (8-2) with a 25-yard scoring strike to John Tsimis in the slot.  The Crusaders would strike again 60 seconds later when defensive back Kyle Queiro took advantage of an over-aggressive pass from Brandon Napoleon, intercepting it and running 32 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7.

Germano would make it 28-7 heading into the half when he connected with Justin Kulcsar for a 5-yard score with just 38 seconds left in the quarter.

"Obviously that (interception) and that late touchdown in the back of the end zone, that's the two scores (that hurt us)," Hansen said. "It's 14-7 instead of 28-7 if those two things don't happen. But it did and that's part of the game. Those kind of things change high school games. We just didn't have it in us to do it. They just played better than we did today."

The two touchdowns and the play of Germano proved to be a fatal combination for the Marauders on this day. The 5-foot-11 signal caller would throw touchdowns to four different receivers in a 10-for-20, 157-yard performance. He proved equally elusive with his feet rushing for 117 yards on 13 carries.

"He's a good runner, he's a tough runner, they use him well," Hansen said. "It didn't surprise us, but we got to tackle too. A lot of the times he was escaping through the middle, we had hands on him, but we couldn't bring him down. It's a credit to him."

As a team, the Crusaders gashed Prep for 231 rushing yards behind the trio of Germano, Nick Gerst (12-for 75) and James Dawson (12-for-37).

Germano hit Chucky Wingate for a 38-yard touchdown to open the scoring. St. Peter's Prep answered right back, tying the game with a 2-yard run from Jonathan Hilliman. Jared Crayton (70 yards) and Mike Rabasca (5 yards) added fourth quarter touchdowns in defeat.

Crayton had 90 yards and nine carries and caught a pair of passes for 47 yards. Rabasca, who entered the game at quarterback late in the third quarter, completed 11-of-20 passes for 122 yards and an interception. Napoleon rushed for 60 yards on six carries and completed four passes for 22 yards.

Bergen Catholic advances to face Don Bosco Prep in two weeks for a state championship while the Marauders have to turn their attention to their other season goal - a division title. Prep play again on Friday afternoon at Union City with the winner claiming the HCIAL National Division championship.

"We have four quarters left," said Hansen. "We want to win the county and that's the only goal left on the table that's achievable and that's what we're going to try to do.

"The seniors deserve to go out with another championship and that's what we're going to try to do."

Jaredy Crayton rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown for St. Peter's Prep in defeat. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

St. Peter's Prep at Bergen Catholic Football Photo Gallery