The Bergen Record

Live updates: Bergen Catholic faces IMG Academy in clash of nationally-ranked teams

By Zach Miller and Darren Cooper, NorthJersey.com,

17 hours ago

Bergen Catholic kicked off its season Thursday night with a blockbuster game against IMG Academy (Fla.) at the Battle at the Beach in Ocean City.

The Crusaders, the three-time defending Non-Public A state champions, entered the season ranked No. 1 in the New Jersey Super 25 . They were also ranked No. 19 in the latest USA TODAY Super 25 .

IMG Academy started the year ranked No. 2 nationally but dropped to No. 9 after a stunning 35-34 loss Corner Canyon (Utah) last week .

The Ascenders may move back up after a 27-14 win . The game was tied 7-7. early in the third quarter.

Bill Belichick was in attendance at the game .

Here were the key plays:

Fourth quarter

Bergen Catholic narrowed the gap on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Campanile to Anthony Perrotti with 4:16 left in the game. IMG Academy 27, Bergen Catholic 14

Ty Hawkins extended IMG's lead with a 4-yard touchdown run with 11:47 left in the game. IMG Academy 27, Bergen Catholic 7

Third quarter

After a Bergen Catholic punt, IMG extended its lead on a 45-yard catch-and-run by freshman Eric McFarland on a pass from Ty Hawkins. IMG Academy 21, Bergen Catholic 7

IMG Academy retook the lead on a 51-yard touchdown run by Ty Hawkins with 7:14 left in the quarter. IMG Academy 14, Bergen Catholic 7

Bergen Catholic tied the game on a 90-yard catch-and-run by Quincy Porter off a pass from Dominic Campanile. Porter is an Ohio State commit. IMG Academy 7, Bergen Catholic 7

IMG received the ball to start the second half and was forced to punt.

North Jersey Week 0 scoreboard

Second quarter

The half ended with Bergen Catholic kicker Guytano Bartolomeo attempting a 56-yard field goal, which bounced off the crossbar. No good.

With 3:01 left in the first half, Bergen Catholic turned the ball over on downs at the IMG 37-yard line.

After intercepting a Dominic Campanile pass, IMG punted for the second time in the quarter.

IMG Academy began the second quarter with the ball and punted.

First quarter

Bergen Catholic marched into the red zone but couldn't convert on fourth-and-10 from the 18-yard line.

IMG marched down the field on its first drive and scored on a Ty Hawkins 2-yard run up the middle with 4:06 left in the quarter. Hawkins is an SMU commit. IMG Academy 7, Bergen Catholic 0

Bergen Catholic received the opening kickoff and was forced to punt from its own 23-yard line. The Crusaders lined up to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the 28, then punted after failing to draw IMG offsides.

Pregame

Seniors Phoenix-Orion DiCosmo, Jack Harris and Kaden Irby-Mason will not play for Bergen Catholic.

All three players have to sit out the early part of the season, per NJSIAA transfer rules . The rules allow players one "free transfer" prior to their junior season, but all other players have to sit out. DiCosmo and Irby-Mason both transferred after their junior years, and Harris (a junior) is transferring for a second time.