November 30, 2011

North Bergen's Denzell Leitch returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

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NORTH BERGEN – Having one return threat the caliber of Debray Tavarez or Denzell Leitch is a luxury many teams would love to have. When you have both like North Bergen does, it borders on unfair.

With eight return touchdowns this season, special teams have been a vital component to the Bruins' road to Saturday's NJSIAA  North 1, Group IV championship game at MetLife Stadium.

"We're definitely a threat," said Leitch. "I don't know what teams think when they know we get the ball. He's excellent at punt returns, I'm excellent at kick returns so a lot of teams try to kick it away from us. But we always tend to get the ball someway, somehow and just do what we do once we get it."

The diminutive, but fearless Leitch has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. While Tavarez, a junior has specialized on punts, taking three back for scores. Tavarez also has a kickoff return for a score.

Opponents have tried to kick away from North Bergen's dynamic duo, but sometimes even that isn't enough to keep the ball out of their hands.

"Teams try to kick it away from us, but we're both back there," Leitch said. "Even our second line, they believe in us so much that if the ball rolls back to them, they'll pick it up and pitch it back to us. Let us make a move and get some yards."

The Bruin second line is dangerous in its own right. In the first round of the playoffs, Passaic County Tech booted it away from the Leitch/Tavarez duo, only to see Eric McMullen return the game's opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown.

Opportunities may be sparse for Leitch and Tavarez against Montclair and kicker Will Kline. The sophomore has launched 32 touchbacks in 80 attempts this season.

"They kick the ball very well, I hope we get the opportunity (to run it back)," North Bergen head coach Vincent Ascolese said. "I'm sure in the punt game, I'm sure we're going to get the opportunity. In the kickoff game, watching tape and having seen them play two times, they don't give you a lot of opportunity on kickoff. Their kid puts the ball in the end zone quite often."

The other key on special teams will be trying to minimize the damage of Montclair's sensational returner Khalif Herbin. The dynamic 5-foot-7 senior has five return touchdowns on the season. He returned two punts for touchdowns three weeks ago against Memorial and took a kickoff back 81 yards for a touchdown vs. St. Peter's Prep.

"(Punter) Danny (Melian) can be a big factor," Ascolese said. "Danny's got a good leg and position punting is very important, where you put the ball."

Welmar Muriel, fresh off a game-winning 25-yard field goal in overtime against Union City, will be the kick for the Bruins. Montclair counters with junior Taylor Ullrich, who has 51 extra points and a field goal for the season.

Welmar Muriel kicked North Bergen to the finals with a game-winning field goal. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

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