After one of many wildest season-opening video games in latest reminiscence that includes a pair of northeastern powerhouses, one factor grew to become clear — these Central Catholic Vikings are for actual.
With 20-time New Jersey state champion Bergen Catholic coming to city for a main-event showdown on the opening evening of the third annual KDKA Kickoff Classic on the Wolvarena, Central hoped to erase the painful reminiscences of its Week Zero defeats inside the identical venue in opposition to St. Frances (Md.) and La Salle College from the previous two seasons.
The Vikings (1-0) did so in model, imposing their will early and infrequently in opposition to the Crusaders (0-1) and withstanding a second-half rally to safe a convincing 45-30 win.
“We talked about it — we were going to have to be resilient,” mentioned Central coach Ryan Lehmeier. “We knew we were going to face adversity. … I just really love the way my team responded. It’s a credit to those kids and their integrity and their character. We had guts, that’s what it was.”
Hear from our Player of the Game, Central junior RB Chrys Black, after he racked up 270 all-purpose yards (153 speeding on 16 carries, 37 receiving on 2 catches and 80 returning on 2 punt returns) to steer the Vikings to a 45-30 statement win in opposition to Bergen Catholic:@TribLiveHSSN pic.twitter.com/Ym55mOppxc
— Steve Rotstein (@SteveRotstein) August 29, 2026
With a handful of future Power Four convention gamers on each sidelines, Vikings junior Chrys Black stole the present with a sensational second-half efficiency. Black rushed for 153 yards on 16 carries and scored all three of his touchdowns after halftime, to not point out a jaw-dropping punt-return TD that received negated by a penalty. Overall, he completed with 270 all-purpose yards (153 speeding, 37 receiving on two catches and two punt returns for 80 yards).
“We came in with a chip on our shoulder,” Black mentioned. “We knew what we needed to do. … We knew what we had been going up in opposition to, however we all know our recreation and we all know how one can play our soccer. We simply needed to present them that it’s not going to be a repeat (of the final two years).
“We’re going all the way this year, 100%.”
For Bergen Catholic, future Oklahoma quarterback Trey Tagliaferri was even higher than marketed, finishing 31-of-52 passes for 363 yards and three TDs to at least one interception. His high targets, Austin Busso and Bryan Porter, each put up huge video games as nicely, with Porter hauling in 10 passes for 74 yards and Busso tallying 5 receptions for 115 yards and a rating.
But ultimately, a stout efficiency by Central’s heralded offensive line — the Vikings allowed zero sacks whereas offering lots room to run — mixed with Black’s heroics proved to be the distinction within the recreation.
“We knew we were playing one of the marquee teams in the northeast. They are an awesome football program,” mentioned Crusaders coach Vito Campanile. “They’re as physical of a group as you’re going to see, and one of the best offensive lines in the country. My hat’s off to them.”
Things couldn’t have began a lot worse for Central, as Tagliaferri fired an ideal strike over the center to Georgia Tech recruit Busso on the second play of the sport for an 84-yard catch-and-run TD. After that, although, the remainder of the half was all Vikings.
With each groups taking part in at a breakneck tempo whereas using their hurry-up offenses proper from the start, the ball moved up and down the sphere at a speedy tempo. Central’s first drive ended with a 29-yard subject purpose by Antonio Difatta, whereas Bergen’s ensuing drive noticed a 29-yard subject purpose try by Jacob Soltys sail vast left.
The Vikings saved the pedal to the steel after regaining possession, with star senior Roman Thompson punching in a 3-yard TD run to present them a 10-7 lead they by no means relinquished. Early within the second quarter, Herrick delivered a 14-yard TD go to Connor Melnik on third-and-goal to stretch the result in 17-7. Then, following a superbly executed faux punt, Herrick saved it himself on a 3-yard TD run to make it a 24-7 benefit for Central going into the half.
“This is what we’re built for,” Lehmeier mentioned. “We make practice exceptionally hard so that we can function in moments like this.”
A 7-yard TD scamper by Black prolonged the Vikings’ result in 31-7 early within the third quarter, and the sport seemed to be all however over. But Bergen Catholic confirmed its championship mettle by responding with two fast touchdowns to go with a pair of 2-point conversions, making it a one-score recreation at 31-23.
That was as shut because the Crusaders received, as Black iced the sport with a 31-yard TD adopted by a 13-yard rating to assist elevate Central to victory.
“He’s a bad dude, man,” Lehmeier mentioned about Black. “That cat can play. He just has an unbelievable ability — his contact balance and his vision — he just has an unbelievable feel for football.”