Bergen Catholic fought tooth and nail in the second half, pulling away late to secure a 28-14 victory over DePaul in their regular-season finale on October 31. This wasn’t just any game, though. It was the “Campanile Bowl,” where head coach Vito Campanile’s Bergen Catholic faced off against his younger brother Nick’s DePaul squad, marking Vito’s third straight win in the family series that kicked off in 2022.
The Family Rivalry Hits Different
You’d think a 3-0 record against your brother would feel awesome, but Vito Campanile kept it real after the final buzzer. “This is the game that’s never easy for me,” he said. “It’s the only time you ever win and you feel somewhat of a little bit of a dent in you, if that makes sense.” Talk about high stakes, not just for the scoreboard, but for family bragging rights that come with an emotional cost. Nick Campanile echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the unique challenge. “It’s always really tough, but it’s not about that,” Nick stated. “Obviously, Vito’s taught me more than anybody on the planet, I love him to death and obviously respect him more than anybody. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without him, but it’s about the kids, and you try to block that part out as best as you can.” Even on the field, Bergen Catholic junior TE/DE Rocky Rosenberg understood the unique dynamic. “It’s a family affair,” he noted, “but we treat it like every other game. The preparation is the same, and you just stay ready.”
Crusaders Pull Away in a Gridiron Battle
Bergen Catholic, now sitting at 5-4, got a monster performance from junior quarterback Trey Tagliaferri. The dude threw for 171 yards and a touchdown, plus he ran for another score himself. Junior running back Anthony Cristiano and versatile senior Bryan Porter also punched in touchdowns on the ground for the Crusaders. DePaul didn’t just roll over, though. They battled hard, with senior running back Sean Nevers tying the game at 7-7 with a 1-yard run with only 12 seconds left in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Frank Morano then found junior Gavin Sblendorio for a 21-yard score in the third, evening things up again at 14-14.
But Bergen Catholic just kept grinding. Tagliaferri hit sophomore Cruz Araujo for a 1-yard touchdown pass to take a 28-14 lead with just 1:22 remaining. Then, senior defensive back Amar’e Newell slammed the door shut with an interception less than a minute later. Talk about clutch plays! Bryan Porter was a workhorse, carrying the ball 17 times for 93 yards and a score, mostly on outside runs, and also snagged six catches for 48 yards. Tagliaferri was dialed in, completing 21 of 25 passes for 171 yards, that key touchdown, and zero interceptions, all while scoring the first touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run. Vito Campanile called it “A grind-it-out, playoff-type win, a tough, tough football game. They have some great stuff schematically and gave us some fits. It was just a back-and-forth battle and we got that service break late and made the most of it.” Nick Campanile, understandably, felt the sting of defeat. “Obviously disappointed,” he said. “We had our chances in that game. I felt we left a lot of points on the field in the first half, and then it came back to bite us.”
Now, it is officially playoff time for both squads. Bergen Catholic is heading into Non-Public A, while DePaul will be looking for their third consecutive title in Non-Public B. We’re all waiting for the seedings to drop on November 1. For Bergen Catholic, ranked No. 8 in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Super 25, they’ll need to beef up their run game and create more explosive plays moving forward. Their longest gain in this Campanile Bowl? A 35-yard fake punt run by senior Nick Mauro. You just know they’re focused on tightening that up before their postseason push begins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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