Live score update recap: Minnesota commit Naiim Parrish saves day for Bergen Catholic over rival Don Bosco Prep

In 80th meeting of New Jersey high school powers, defensive back intercepts two passes, the second to thwart what might have been miraculous Don Bosco Prep win

Sept 2, 2023; Oradell, NJ, USA; Iona Prep (NY) at Bergen Catholic (NJ) in a high school football game on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. BC #5 Naiim Parrish celebrates after making a catch for an interception in the second quarter. Mandatory Credit: Michael Karas-The Record / Michael Karas / USA TODAY NETWORK

They've played some doozies in the New Jersey high school football rivalry between Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) and Bergen Catholic (Oradell).

The 80th edition between arguably the two strongest programs in the state looked like it was heading for one of its best.

But Naiim Parrish saved the day and brought some normalcy back for the Crusaders.

The Minnesota-bound athlete and defensive back intercepted his second pass of the game on a double-reverse play with 1:20 remaining thwarting what could have been one of the great rallies in the history of the rivalry.

DON BOSCO PREP VS. BERGEN CATHOLIC: At a glance

Bosco, behind backup quarterback Dylan Wrona and the will of running back Dante Deluca, closed to 24-20 with 2:46 remaining after a 12-yard TD pass from Wrona to Isaiah Alvarez. The play before Deluca, who rushed for two touchdowns, took a screen pass, broke about a half-dozen tackles on a 31-yard gain.

All you need to see of the ⁦@BergenCathFBall⁩ vs. ⁦@DBP_Football⁩ rivalry is displayed by DBP RB ⁦@dante2deluca⁩ on this 31-yard screen in final 3 minutes today. The Ironmen came up short in the Crusaders’ 24-20 win, but the effort on both sides beyond supreme pic.twitter.com/ky3lSmbCVy

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) September 28, 2024

Though there were plenty of offensive standouts, the key play came on a muffed punt that was recovered by 6-foot, 215-pound senior lineeman Benjamin Carey and returned 11 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to five the Crusaders a 14-7 lead.

When Mikahi Allan recovered the ensuing onside kick, the miraculous finish seemed in order. But Parrish came to the rescue securing the third straight win in the series, five of six and nine of 12 for the Crusaders (4-1). Don Bosco Prep (2-2) still owns a 41-37-2 lead in the series.

Dante Kaine and Bryan Porter also had touchdowns for Bergen Catholic, the later on a 15-yard pass from Dominic Campanile, who threw for more than 200 yards.

Bergen Catholic quarterback Dominic Campanile during an earlier game vs. Iona Prep. / Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

LIVE UPDATES: DON BOSCO PREP VS. BERGEN CATHOLIC

FOURTH QUARTER

FINAL SCORE: Bergen Catholic 24, Don Bosco Prep 20

INTERCEPTION PARRISH: Bergen Catholic clinches it when Naiim Parrish picks off his second pass of the game and 12th in his career off a trick play.

ONSIDE KICK RECOVERED BY BERGEN CATHOLIC!: Mikahi Allan recovers for DBP. Take over at BC 48.

TOUCHDOWN DON BOSCO PREP! What a drive. Following remarkable 40-yard catch and run by Dante Deluca, sophomore QB Dylan Wrona completes 12-yard TD by Isaiah Alvarez. 2:46 4Q. XP blocked. BC 24, Don Bosco Prep 20.

IRONMEN HOLD! No quit in Don Bosco Prep. They've overcome a number of turnovers and once again, the defense holds and offense takes over at own 28 with 4:40 remaining, still with a shot. BC 24, DBP 14.

INTERCEPTION BERGEN CATHOLIC: Junior Jordan Thomas with interception along the Bergen Catholic sideline. BC takes over at the Bosco 30. 5:10 4Q. Bergen Catholic 24, Don Bosco Prep 14.

FIELD GOAL BERGEN CATHOLIC: 41-yard field goal by Jack Donnelly. 10:15 4Q. Bergen Catholic 24, Don Bosco Prep 14

THIRD QUARTER

END OF 3: Bergen Catholic 21, Don Bosco Prep 14

TOUCHDOWN BERGEN CATHOLIC! Wow what a drive. Dominic Campanile brilliant. Completes six passes the last to Bryan Porter, a 15-yarder puts Bergen Catholic right back up in front. 1:07 3Q. Bergen Catholic 21, Don Bosco Prep 14.

TOUCHDOWN DON BOSCO PREP! 5-yard touchdown run by Dante Deluca. Ties the score at 14-14. 2:49 3Q.

TURNOVER BERGEN CATHOLIC: After turning the ball over on downs, Don Bosco Prep recovers at Bergen 42.

SERIOUS INJURY: A Don Bosco Prep was injured and game delayed 12 minutes. He was carted off. Prayers to that young man. Play resumes. Bergen Catholic up 14-7, 6:27 3Q.

TOUCHDOWN BERGEN CATHOLIC! Shocking score as Benjamin Carey picks up a muffed punt and rambles 11-yard touchdown. Bergen Catholic 14, Don Bosco Prep 7. 9:10 3Q.

SECOND QUARTER

HALFTIME: Don Bosco Prep 7, Bergen Catholic 7

INTERCEPTION MINNESOTA-BOUND NAIIM PARISH: As Bosco was driving down field, Parish records his first interception of the season. Bergen Catholic takes over at its own 31-yard line. 90 seconds left in the half. Game tied at 7-7.

CRUSHING PENALTY! On 4th-and-3 from its own 40, a 60-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Campanile to Anthony Perrotti, but Crusaders called for illegal man down field. 3:36 2Q. Game still tied at 7. Bergen Catholic punts to Don Bosco Prep.

TOUCHDOWN DON BOSCO PREP! Dante Deluca with 3-yard drive up the middle, caps 69-yard drive that takes more than seven minutes. Don Bosco Prep 7, Bergen Catholic 7. 6:15 2Q.

DON BOSCO PREP: The Ironmen methodically moving doiwn field, inside the 10, third-and-goal after a penalty. Bosco QB Deven Sisler with some big plays.

FIRST QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN BERGEN CATHOLIC: Dante Kain 1-yard TD run. 1:02 1Q. A 45-yard pass from Dominic Campanile to Quincy Porter to the 1 set up the score. Bergen Catholic 7, Don Bosco Prep 0.

BIG BERGEN SACK: The Ironmen start near midfield, but a sack stalls Don Bosco's momentum. Punts to Bergen Catholic, which takes over at own 27. No score. 1:55 1Q.

TURNOVER BOSCO! But the Ironmen's defense stiffens. Bergen Catholic goes 3-and-out. No score midway throught first quarter.

PREGAME

There aren't many better high school rivalry games than New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep versus Bergen Catholic. Or busy ones.

Over the last 20 years, the teams have met a whopping 30 times with Don Bosco Prep winning 19 of them. Many have been for state championships.

The two teams renew their rivalry Saturday at Bergen Catholic with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.

Though Don Bosco owns a a significant series lead since 2004, Bergen Catholic has controlled the rivalry as of late, winning four of the last five and eight of 11.

Saturday's game pits two teams that have responded to opening-game losses, Bergen Catholic a 27-14 home loss to IMG Academy. Since then, the Crusaders (3-1) have won three straight over Washington (35-21), Iona Prep (31-10) and Pope John XXIII (63-7).

They are led by 4-star wide receiver Quincy Porter (6-foot-3, 190), a Ohio State commit, Minnesota-bound athlete Naiim Parrish, Rutgers commit Chris Vigna, a 6-5, 295 offensive lineman, and edge rusher Phoenix-Orion Dicosmo (6-5, 220), who has four college offers including Vanderbilt.

Don Bosco Prep opened with a 21-7 loss to Archbishop Hoban but has responded with wins over Red Bank Catholic (44-0) and St. Anthony's (49-10). The Ironmen are led by a pair of college-bound cornerbacks in Renick Dorilas (Rugers) and Marquet Dorsey Jr. (Northwestern).

This is the 80th meeting between the teams overall. Bergen Catholic won its 500th game of career last week with the win over Pope John XXIII.