Each-and-every year, Big North United Division fans await the release of each team’s non-league schedule. On Friday, Bergen Catholic, which finished #36 in the 2015 High School Football America national rankings, released its 2016 season.
The Crusaders will open the season against Pennsylvania’s Archbishop Wood, which has won three PIAA 3A titles in the last five years. The game against the Vikings will be played on either September 2nd or 3rd.
The following week, BC will welcome Tampa Catholic from Florida. Last year, TC went 10-3, advancing to the state 3A semis.
Bergen Catholic’s other non-league games will be against New Jersey opponents St. Peter’s Prep, Pope John XXIII and Seton Hall Prep. The game against Seton Hall Prep will feature the Campanile brothers squaring-off again. Last year’s BC head coach Nunzio Campanile beat his brother Vito, SHP’s head coach, in the state quarterfinals.
Headlining the Crusaders’ league schedule will be the 68th edition of Bergen-Bosco. Last year, Don Bosco Prep, which finished #20 in High School Football America Final Top 25, beat BC twice. The second loss was in the Non-Public Group 4 semifinals, which gave the Crusaders a 7-4 record last season.
Bergen Catholic 2016 schedule
9/2 or 9/3 – @ Archbishop Wood (Pennsylvania)
9/10 – vs. Tampa Catholic (Florida)
9/16 – @ DePaul Catholic
9/24 – vs. Paramus Catholic
10/1 – @ St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, NJ)
10/14 – @ St. Peter’s Prep
10/22 – @Pope John XXIII
10/29 – vs. Don Bosco Prep
11/5 – vs. Seton Hall Prep