Sunday, September 30, 2007

By Jim McConville
NJS.com Staff Writer

ORADELL -- In looking at the 2006 Bergen Catholic football season, everyone will tell you that turning point was the 18-16 loss to Paramus Catholic, a game which spawned a number of personnel changes that spilled over into this season.

That defeat was the lynch pin of a 6-4 season, and the resulting reaction also led to this year’s seniors bringing a change of attitude to the team. The new-look Crusaders still had a measure of revenge to extract, however, and that opportunity presented itself on Saturday afternoon against the Paladins.

The points came early and often, the message was loud and clear. Bergen Catholic easily earned its retribution, blowing out to a 43-0 lead at halftime before letting the second and third teams clean up in a 50-0 blasting of Paramus Catholic. The now 3-0 Crusaders have blitzed their first three opponents to the tune of a combined 148-13 score, and it is all a very pleasing sight for head coach Fred Stengel.

“I’m very proud of them. We took a lot of stuff last year, but this team has a different attitude about it, and I’m happy to see the way they back each other. I encouraged it, but they did it.”

Jon Sam took the opening kickoff 70 yards, only to have it brought back by penalty. Quarterback Rob Eckrote then hooked up with Jon Rigg for a 56-yard completion to reach the Paladin 30-yard line. Nick Gerst got them all on two plays, the last a 12-yard run off left tackle. Dan Smith hit the first of six extra point kicks just 1:02 in and the tone was set.

“We were looking to set the tone right away, get up early and make sure we come out on top,” Gerst related.

Paramus Catholic (0-4) had no success offensively, picking up only 20 total yards in the first half on 19 plays. They finished with 81 total yards and only 3 through the air. Meanwhile, the Crusaders we`re whacking out yards in bunches, totaling 352 in the opening half on just 23 plays.

Gerst had 170 rushing yards in the first quarter and was done for the day midway into the second quarter after a 32-yard touchdown run finished his ledger at 11 carries, 202 yards and three touchdowns.

“They’re doing a tremendous job,” Gerst said of the offensive line. “I could have chosen to run anywhere today.”

“Like bull terriers,” Stengel growled of his offensive line.

Bergen was up 22-0 after the first quarter, as Joe Wagner scored on a 3-yard run and Gerst went 56 yards. In between those TDs, Bill Schautz tackled a Paladin runner in the end zone for a safety.

Schautz scored on a 38-yard pass down the middle from Eckrote (4 of 8 passing, 122 yards, no interceptions) on the first play of the second quarter and Gerst followed with a 32-yard scoring run.

On the kickoff after the Gerst touchdown, an altercation broke out on the field, with a Paladin player being ejected for throwing a punch. After that, the game became a matter of getting it over for both teams.

Anthony Marino scored on a 24-yard interception return when the punter was unable to get off a kick and tried to throw a pass while being hit. The starters got the second half off, with James Williams getting 8 carries for 35 yards and a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter to finish the scoring.

Seniors Jim McGahn and Andrew Truebig each had five tackles to top the Crusaders, while Scott Lowry, Mike Luciano and Marco Smith each made five tackles for the Paladins.
Bergen Catholic now gets ready to face Bloomfield, a 3-0 club coming off a big win over Passaic.

“Bloomfield’s good,” Stengel warned. “They’re a solid opponent and we need to be ready.”

“We have to remember what happened last year,” Gerst said. “We took some teams lightly and lost some games. We need to stay focused, keep working and keep playing hard.”

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