A more than 2,000-mile journey across the country didn’t slow down No. 19
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) in a 28-7 victory Friday night at No. 14
Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.). The high school football showdown featured defending champions from two different states, each riding a double-digit win streak.
Bergen Catholic (2-0) extended its overall win streak to 15 games in the first trip out west for the program since 2017. Saguaro (0-1) saw its own 10-game win streak come to an end.
The Crusaders controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Senior running back
Saeed St. Fleur rushed for more than 100 yards with a touchdown for the victors. Bergen Catholic's defensive line routinely swallowed up Sabercat ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage, forcing turnovers in the process.
Bergen Catholic senior running back Saeed St. Fleur ran for more than 100 yards and a touchdown against Saguaro.
Photo: Steve Chadwick
After a scoreless first quarter, Bergen Catholic broke loose when sophomore quarterback
Dominic Campanile tossed a four-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver
Quincy Porter, who has an offer from Michigan.
On the next possession Campanile threw his second score of the game to senior
Christian Carti for a 14-0 lead.
Each time the Sabercats got moving, the Crusader defense stepped up. Defensive linemen
Sydir Mitchell (Texas commit) and
D.J. Samuels (Maryland) got into the backfield with ease and the secondary took advantage.
First sophomore
Naiim Parrish reeled in an interception to give the Crusaders the ball near midfield with a 14-0 lead. St. Fleur broke loose for a 36-yard run, then finished off the drive with a three-yard plunge into the end zone for a 21-0 lead with two minutes to play in the first half.
Saguaro drove deep into Bergen Catholic territory trying to score before heading into the locker room. On the final play of the second quarter, Bergen Catholic sophomore defensive back
Ethan Cohall Jr. leaped high in the air as the ball sailed into the end zone and came up with a pick to keep the home team scoreless.
Christian Carti of Bergen Catholic looks to reel in a pass Friday night in a huge win for Bergen Catholic.
Photo: Steve Chadwick
The Crusaders picked up the scoring early in the third quarter with junior
Christopher Mimmo picking off a pass and returning it 50 yards to the house for a 28-0 lead.
Midway through the fourth, the Sabercats got on the board when senior three-star quarterback
Devon Dampier threw a touchdown to four-star
Deric English to cut the lead to 28-7.
Sept. 24 looms large for Bergen Catholic as it will take on rival
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), the last team to beat the Crusaders back in November of 2020.
Texas pledge Sydir Mitchell made a big impact for Bergen Catholic in Friday's dominating win over defending Arizona Open Division champ Saguaro.
Photo: Steve Chadwick
