New Jersey high school football rankings: Bergen Catholic crowned 2020 MaxPreps Champion, finishes No. 1

By Aaron Williams Dec 1, 2020, 9:00am

Crusaders grind out 22-15 over St. Peter's Prep to end season 5-1.

The high school football season in New Jersey came to a close over the weekend, but the usual playoff format was replaced in a COVID-shortened season with postseason groupings. Instead of the standard 13 classifications, the four-team pods provided competitive matchups as a way to extend the shortened season.

One team that made the most of the season-ending games was Bergen Catholic (Oradell), which closed the year with a 22-15 victory over St. Peter's Prep.

That victory erased a loss two weeks prior to Don Bosco Prep, helped the Crusaders finish 5-1 and made Bergen Catholic the 2020 MaxPreps Champion for the state of New Jersey.
Photo by John Jones
In the seven-point win over the Mauraders, Bergen Catholic relied on junior bell cow Ryan Butler to chew up clock and fuel a fourth quarter comeback. Trailing 15-14 with 11 minutes remaining, the junior running back led Bergen Catholic on a nine-minute, 83-yard scoring drive that Butler capped with a 1-yard TD plunge.

Butler finished with 132 yards rushing on 31 carries (15 in the fourth period) and added 104 yard receiving, including a 65-yard scoring strike in the second quarter.

And fittingly, it was Butler who also made the tackle on St. Peter's Prep's last-ditch hook-and-lateral.

"We wanted this game more than anything," Butler told NJ. com. "We wanted to play and we wanted to win. The whole team bought into this goal and this game."

Final New Jersey MaxPreps Top 25



# School Rec. Str. +/-
1Bergen Catholic (Oradell)5-139.1+1
2Delbarton (Morristown)6-028.5+1
3SJRHS (Montvale)6-238.9+1
4Holy Spirit (Absecon)8-022.8+1
5DePaul Catholic (Wayne)3-346.1+1
6SPP (Jersey City)4-238.6-5
7Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey)2-346.0--
8St. Joseph (Hammonton)7-228.6--
9Ocean City6-117.2+1
10SHP (West Orange)3-340.3+12
11Wall Township (Wall)7-09.4+1
12Cherokee (Marlton)5-219.2-1
13SAP (Richland)4-332.9+5
14Williamstown5-226.5+3
15Somerville7-04.0--
16Lenape (Medford)5-222.2-7
17Paulsboro7-07.6-4
18Camden4-122.2-4
19Winslow Township (Atco)5-120.9-3
20Willingboro3-125.4+8
21Hammonton4-327.5+4
22Newton6-0-0.8-1
23DCHS (Toms River)7-110.2-3
24River Dell (Oradell)6-110.3-1
25BTHS (Burlington)6-113.2-6