Eustace clinches division crown
Bishop Eustace capitalized on late-game mistakes by host Camden Catholic Friday night, and the Crusaders clinched the Burlco/Olympic National Division crown outright with a 35-20 victory.
Eustace (7-1 overall, 5-0 division) recovered a Camden Catholic fumble on the Irish 23-yard line with 4 minutes, 12 seconds remaining in the third period and six plays later Carmen Raroha blasted 2 yards for a touchdown to give the Crusaders a 21-20 lead, their first of the game.
Bishop Eustace coach Rob Cormier watches from the sidelines. (Bonnie Weller / Staff Photographer)
They never looked back as the Irish (4-4 overall, 3-2 division) turned over the ball twice more and Ryan Barankowski and Fran Iula turned them into touchdowns.
The Irish took a 20-15 lead into intermission after Michael Blandon, Sherard Cadogan and Ryan Graves scored.
Blandon capped a 10-play drive with an 18-yard run and Tyler Faiola added the extra point to give Camden Catholic a 7-0 lead with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.
But Eustace tailback Sean Bell responded by rushing 80 yards on the first play from scrimmage to the end zone to shrink the lead to 7-6.
Camden Catholic senior quarterback Joe Brennan found Cadogan with a 20-yard touchdown strike 3:13 into the second period for a 13-6 advantage.
Graves added another touchdown on a 12-yard run and Camden Catholic led, 20-6.
Bur Eustace fought back when quarterback Will Clements plunged 1 yard for a touchdown, and Kenny Fetchko, who missed an extra point on the previous TD, kicked a 27-yard field goal to draw the Crusaders within five points, 20-15.
The game was special to both teams for a number of reasons.
Eustace, a team on the rise under third-year coach Robert Cormier, wanted to win the division outright. A loss meant sharing the crown with the Irish, who entered the game with a 23-20-1 edge in the rivalry.
Also, it was the last time that Eustace and Camden Catholic would be competing in the Burlco/Olympic National Division. They will be in a new league next year.
The playoffs were another motivating factor to go all out for a victory.
"We have to win to be in or be in a consolation game," Camden Catholic coach Rick Brown had said.
Eustace was already in. It was a matter of improving its spot in the Non-Public 3 bracket.
Bishop Eustace 6 9 6 14 - 35
Camden Catholic 7 13 0 0 - 20
CC: Blandon 18 run (Faiola kick)
BE: Bell 80 run (kick blocked)
CC: Cadogan 20 pass from Brennan (kick failed)
CC: Graves 12 run (Faiola kick)
BE: Clements 1 run (kick failed)
BE: FG Fetchko 27
BE: Raroha 2 run (kick failed)
BE: Barankowski 27 pass from Clements (Fetchko kick)
BE: Iula fumble recovery in end zone (Fetchko kick)
Contact staff writer Bill Iezzi
at 856-779-3826
