Paramus Catholic vs. Bergen Catholic

Can NJ's Bergen Catholic Bounce Back Versus Rival Paramus Catholic?

Can NJ's Bergen Catholic Bounce Back Versus Rival Paramus Catholic?

Looking for a Friday night rivalry to really get the juices flowing? Look no further than this matchup between New Jersey powerhouses Paramus Catholic and Bergen Catholic.

Sep 19, 2017 by Kolby Paxton
Can NJ's Bergen Catholic Bounce Back Versus Rival Paramus Catholic?
Looking for a Friday night rivalry to really get the juices flowing? Look no further than this matchup between New Jersey powerhouses Paramus Catholic and Bergen Catholic.

This North Jersey Super Football Conference United Red division game has it all, from outstanding prospects to postseason implications, and features two of the state's top programs.

Here's everything you need to know.

Bergen Catholic (NJ) vs. Paramus Catholic (NJ)
When: Friday, Sept. 22, at 7:00 PM (ET)
Where: Paramus Catholic High School, Paramus, NJ
Broadcast: FloFootball

What you need to know about Paramus Catholic:
The defending state champs look strong again in 2017, despite multiple key graduations from last year's team -- including quarterback Andrew Brito and running back Alijah Jackson. The Paladins' lone blemish came at the hands of DePaul Catholic -- just their third loss in 15 games under head coach Dan Sabella.

What you need to know about Bergen Catholic:
The Crusaders began the season by reinforcing lofty expectations with a dominant victory over DePaul Catholic -- a win that temporarily vaulted Bergen Catholic into at least one national top 25 poll. Head coach Nunzio Companile's squad was promptly tripped up unexpectedly by Archbishop Wood ahead of a road trip to forget at No. 1 Mater Dei (CA). After falling to the Monarchs 62-14, Companile called Mater Dei the best team he's ever coached against. That may be true, but the Bergen Catholic is better than it has showed in its last two outings.

Offense
Paramus Catholic has traditionally leaned on its ground attack, and the latest Paladins squad is no exception. Quarterback Shelton Applewhite and running backs Jonathan Clark and Xavier De'Vore have combined for 286 of the team's 485 yards through three games. Clark, a Central Michigan commit, is a two-star prospect who rushed for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns behind Jackson as a junior.

Wide receiver Dylan Classi was the star of 7-on-7 Nationals in Canton and the success has carried into the regular season. Classi leads Bergen Catholic with 264 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 16 receptions -- and he's thrown a 55-yard touchdown. Senior Johnny Langan has been adequate at quarterback and juniors Rahmir Johnson and Josh McKenzie have provided outstanding balance on the ground, combining for 267 yards on 45 carries. Langan is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound three-star prospect who's committed to Boston College.

Advantage: ​Push

Defense
Paramus Catholic is led by one of the nation's top defensive ends, Penn State commit Dorian Hardy. A four-star prospect sitting on 23 offers, Hardy is the Paladins' leading tackler with 29 stops through three games. While Hardy is rushing the passer, cornerback Jarrett Paul is shutting down half the field. Paul, a Rutgers pledge, is the 42nd-rated overall player in New Jersey.

Arguably the most impressive player on the field in a white jersey on Friday night will be No. 8: Javontae Jean-Baptiste. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder disrupts both the run and pass game of an opponent and leads the team with 4.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. A Boston College commit, Jean-Baptiste is joined by safety Josh McKenzie -- a four-star athlete from the 2019 class -- who paces the Crusaders with 30 tackles.

Advantage: ​​Push

Intangibles
Noticing a noncommittal preview of this matchup? It's not an accident. Finding differentiators between these programs isn't easy. In fact, examining common opponents only makes it more confounding.

Bergen Catholic opened the season with an impressive victory over DePaul Catholic -- a team that beat Paramus Catholic handily 35-14 a week later. And, yet, while the Paladins were falling to DePaul, the Crusaders were being upset by Archbishop Wood -- a group that Paramus dominated the week before.

So, what gives? Well, Paramus Catholic last lost at home on Nov. 21, 2015, and Bergen Catholic is coming off of a cross-country trip to Mission Viejo, CA, where Mater Dei handed the Crusaders a demoralizing loss before the six-plus hour flight back home.

​Advantage: ​Paramus Catholic



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How to Watch Bergen Catholic vs. Paramus Catholic

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