Paramus Catholic Wins First State Title Since 1997

Starting the game with junior standout Jabrill Peppers in the Wildcat formation the Paramus Catholic Paladins took an early 7-0 lead over Bergen Catholic. Peppers carried the ball 19 times for 212 yards and two scores, but it was the work of Steve Shanley late in the game that sealed a title for the Paladins, Shanley completed all seven of his passes, including a tight spiral he lofted right into the hands of Tyrone Washington for a 55-yard touchdown down the sideline with 1:16 left in the game to lift Paramus Catholic,to a 37-34 victory over Bergen Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group 4 final at MetLife Stadium.  

Bergen Catholic took its first lead of the game with 6:56 left to go in the fourth quarter when Johnny Sebastian scored on a 5-yard TD run to make it 28-21. But the Paladins answered when Keyon Washington found a hole on the right side and broke a 27-yard TD run with 3:15 remaining to pull Paramus Catholic within one with 3:15 remaining, then Shanley found Clayton for the two-point conversion to give the team a 29-28 lead.

On their next pocession Bergen Catholic answered when quarterback Jonathan Germano, who finished 20-for-41 for 236 yards with three TDs, marched the Crusaders 79 yards and capped off the drive with a 1-yard scoring run with 1:39 remaining to make it 34-29. Which lead to Paramus Catholics Steve Shanley's 55 yard TD strike to Washington to give the Paladins a 3 point lead.

Bergen Catholic took over on its own 20 with 1:16 to go and brought the ball up to its 47 before the Paramus Catholic defense forced four straight incomplete passes for the turnover on downs and seal up their first Group 4 State Championship.