Bergen Catholic downs Don Bosco in Non-Public A championship: Here were the key plays

Bergen Catholic beat Don Bosco, 21-7, Saturday at MetLife Stadium in the Non-Public A championship game.

The Crusaders (12-0) had been ranked No. 1 in the state since the preseason, while the Ironmen (8-5) had moved up to No. 5 after winning four games in a row.

Bergen Catholic won the first meeting between the two teams back in September by a 17-0 score. But Don Bosco had won seven of eight games since that defeat.

This was the 76th all-time meeting between these two rivals, and the 11th to determine a state champion.

Here were the key plays from the Crusaders' big win:

Fourth quarter

Ryan Butler scored on a 45-yard touchdown run with 1:08 remaining. Bergen Catholic 28, Don Bosco 7

Bergen Catholic got the ball back with 4:15 left in the game. Don Bosco turned the ball over on downs after coming up short on fourth-and-25.

Don Bosco regained possession at its own 36-yard line after getting a hand on a Crusaders' punt with 6:10 left in the game. Two big plays moved the Ironmen inside the Bergen Catholic 25-yard line.

On fourth-and-4 from the Bergen Catholic 48-yard line, Don Bosco elected to punt. Bergen Catholic took over at its own 19-yard line with 9:41 left in the game.

The quarter began with Don Bosco facing third-and-4 from its own 38-yard line.

Third quarter

The teams exchanged punts in the final half of the third quarter.

After a big catch-and-run by Saeed St. Fleur, Bergen Catholic scored a touchdown on a 6-yard run by DJ Samuels. Bergen Catholic 21, Don Bosco 7

On the first possession of the half, Don Bosco turned the ball over on downs at its own 46-yard line. A run on fourth-and-1 came up short.

Bergen Catholic kicked off to begin the second half.

Second quarter

On fourth-and-14 from the Don Bosco 26-yard line, Bergen Catholic threw a pass to the end zone that was broken up. The Ironmen then knelt the ball to end the quarter.

Don Bosco went three-and-out on its second possession of the quarter. Bergen Catholic took over at its own 47-yard line after a punt, with 3:17 left in the half.

Ryan Butler scored from the 1-yard line on a sweep to give Bergen Catholic the lead with 4:27 left in the first half. Bergen Catholic 14, Don Bosco 7

Don Bosco went three-and-out on the first possession of the quarter. Bergen Catholic took over at the 50-yard line after a punt.

Bergen Catholic kicked off to begin the second quarter.

First quarter

On the final play of the first quarter, Steve Angeli found Jayden Bellamy for a 14-yard touchdown on a quick slant. That play capped a drive that included a 44-yard run by Saeed St. Fleur. Bergen Catholic 7, Don Bosco 7

Don Bosco missed a 27-yard field goal with 2:34 left in the first quarter.

Bergen Catholic was forced to punt on its second possession, and Don Bosco's Kyle Bohm broke through to block the punt, setting the Ironmen up at the Crusaders' 15-yard line.

After Ethan Acevedo took a catch 49 yards down to the Bergen Catholic 19-yard line, Don Bosco quarterback Nick Minicucci ran for a score. Don Bosco 7, Bergen Catholic 0

On the first drive of the game, Bergen Catholic drove down to the Don Bosco 25-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.

Don Bosco won the coin toss and deferred.

Pregame

The first game of the day at MetLife Stadium ended at 1:30, so the Bergen Catholic-Don Bosco game was pushed back 18 minutes to 2:18 p.m.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Live updates: Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco battle for state title