State Title Recap: Bergen Catholic 25 – Don Bosco 7

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game that was a 2-point game entering the fourth quarter, the Bergen Catholic Crusaders defeated the Don Bosco Ironmen. In the process, Bergen Catholic has been crowed the 2025 NJSIAA Non-Public Champions of Group A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a few difference makers that took over the game at various points. Their impact on either side of the ball, for either team, was felt and is everlasting in this memorable game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bergen Catholic Top Performances</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["437687"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674e0576d632c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lil' bro made big bro proud. [player_tooltip player_id='437687' first='Bryan' last='Porter'], the brother of Prep Redzone New Jersey's #1 overall prospect [player_tooltip player_id='525111' first='Quincy' last='Porter'], has officially announced himself to the state with his coming out party.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A receiver, the younger Porter made 3 receptions for 34 yards; however, when given an opportunity to run the ball, Porter single-handedly put the game away with two long runs. With the score standing at 11-7 in the 4th quarter, Porter ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run to put the Crusaders. Later in the same quarter, Porter repeated his magic to ice the game with a 26-yard touchdown run to finalize the 25-7 score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As he looks to produce his brother's greatness entering his junior season, Porter recorded 24 catches for 220 yards and a score, while he carried the ball 4 times for 95 yards and scoring twice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284069"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674f18804b6ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Capping off - arguably - the best season of his career with a state championship [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun'] was the game's leader in yards from scrimmage with 18 carries for 112 yards. In producing a 220/1294/13 season on the ground, the import from South Jersey proved his case for the state's top running back as he competed against the very best competition our state has to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With one more season to play next year, Calhoun already has career numbers of 481/2944/39. Expect those numbers to explode next year as he prepares for his last dance in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["836216"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674f18804b733"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/state-championship-game-preview-non-public-groups-a-and-b/">championship game preview</a>, I correctly predicted that in order for Don Bosco to win they would have to keep the Bergen Catholic pass rushers off balance. Well, the proof is in the pudding. [player_tooltip player_id='1270594' first='Jackson' last='Vaughn'] made 4 tackles in this contest, all of which were sacks. Not much of a coincidence, in my opinion, that Bergen Catholic won as a result.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This statement game caps off an outstanding freshman season on varsity. Vaughn finished the year with 16 tackles (10 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. With productivity like this against the state's best competition at the age of 14 or 15, Vaughn is certain to be a top prospect in the state, if not <em>the </em>top prospect for years to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Don Bosco Top Performances</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[1572176],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674f18804b776"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It seems as though Don Bosco did try to apply the approach I predicted in my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/state-championship-game-preview-non-public-groups-a-and-b/">championship game preview</a> by deploying a balanced attack. The beneficiary of this was [player_tooltip player_id='1524826' first='Dante' last='DeLuca']. The junior tailback was given 14 totes that produced 52 yards and a score. DeLuca also caught 4 balls that produced 43 additional yards. In all, DeLuca finished the game tied for first in touches and second in yards from scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is something motivating about defeat, especially in a tight game that got away late. DeLuca will have the opportunity to do something about that, as he just completed his junior year with 193 carries for 892 yards and 15 scores. He will be motivated like all hell to win the big one next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["852611"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674f18804b7b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For [player_tooltip player_id='437687' first='Bryan' last='Porter'], he may have found his Bird-to-his-Magic in arch rival Don Bosco's [player_tooltip player_id='852611' first='Isaiah' last='Alvarez']. In a case of "anything you can do I can do better," Alvarez tied a career high in receptions with 6 in this one, en route to a 63 yard performance. This production is promising, especially considering he was covered by [player_tooltip player_id='284065' first='Jordan' last='Thomas'] for stretches of time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The young sophomore had a better-than-maybe-anticipated campaign that produced a 48/721/9 slash line through the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->