Tag: Hanover Park

by Mike Pavlichko

Bernards’ big, late defensive stand helps Mountaineers survive Hanover Park’s quick pace in North 2, Group 2 first round, 21-20

In the end, it came down to the little things. It always does.

Third-seeded Bernards had three takeaways – two fumble recoveries and an interception – and came up with a monster defensive stand late in the fourth quarter to emerge with a 21-20 win over visiting sixth-seed Hanover Park Friday night at Olcott Field, in a game heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

And that sets up a date for the Mountaineers (7-2) next Friday at second-seed Hoboken (9-1), which beat seven-seed Ramsey in its opening round game, 49-14.

After a scoreless first half which went at a blistering pace with the Hornets controlling the time of possession, defensive back Zach Favreau came up with a goal line interception to end a long Hanover Park drive.

Bernards escaped a safety on the possession, and went three and out, but the punt only put the visitors on the Bernards 39, and 26 seconds into the second quarter, QB Vin Fusella hit Garrett Walters for a 15-yard touchdown pass to put his team up 6-0, after their two-point run failed.

But just three minutes later, Bernards answered with a Luke Bubnowski five-yard run that put the Mountaineers up 7-6 with the PAT, and that would be all the scoring in the first half, which also saw Sean Arcelay leave with an injury; he didn’t return.

Midway through the third, Bernards extended the lead to 14-6 on a 31-yard touchdown run by Bubnowski, but less than four minutes later, Jake Cosentino capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard run, and a Rocco Zirpoli two-point run tied the score at 14.

Into the fourth, Bubnowski scored his third touchdown of the game, on a three-yard run with 8:56 left. The PAT turned out to be critical, putting Bernards up 21-14.

That would be short-lived, as it took Hanover Park just 1:23 to go 50 yards on six plays, scoring on another Fusella-Walters connection, this time from 30 yards out, to cut the deficit to one. But the two-point run was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage by Bernards, allowing them to maintain a one-point lead.

The Mountaineers went three-and-out, and Hanover Park got the ball back, but came up with a huge defensive stand, with Bubnowski sacking Fusella at the 35 yard line with under three minutes to go.

All Bernards had to do was get one first down – even with Hanover Park holding on to two time outs – and they did, eventually going into victory formation for the “W.”

Bubnowski finished the game with 14 carries for 92 yards and three TDs for Bernards.

Click below for postgame reaction from Bernards head coach Jon Simoneau and senior RB/SS Luke Bubnowski, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Bernards hosts Hanover Park and Hornets’ familiar coaching staff in North 2, Group 2 opening round

In its regular season finale, the Bernards football team took a Saturday Cutoff Weekend trip down to Summit, a team that’s usually very good, and always well-coached by Kevin Kostibos.

His predecessor was John Liberato, who spent seven seasons at the helm, with the Hilltoppers never missing the playoffs. They won two sectional titles in that span, in 2009 and 2012. And again, those teams had excellent coaching.

His son, Nick, has been the head coach at Hanover Park for the past two seasons, and his father is working under him as the offensive coordinator. Again, they’re well-coached, something Bernards mentor Jon Simoneau is very familiar with.

And that’s just one of the backdrops when the third-seeded Mountaineers and sixth-seeded Hornets meet Friday night in the opening round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 playoffs.

You can hear that game live Friday night at 7 pm, our Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central (Friday) Game of the week, with Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel on the call. Pregame starts at 6:40; click here to listen.

Bernards started the season with losses at Rutherford and at home to Cranford, which was unbeaten until this past weekend, when they lost to Hillside. But since then, they have won seven straight to come into the contest 7-2, and playing some of their best football all year.

Senior quarterback Nolan Walsh pilots the offense, throwing for 1,212 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, but he also is the team’s leading rusher, with 938 yards on 106 carries – that’s over 8.8 yards per carry – with 12 more touchdowns.

It doesn’t take a scientific calculator to figure out that’s 2,150 yards of total offense – 67 percent of the unit’s total yardage – and 28 of the team’s 37 touchdowns scored in 2026. We know, it’s mind-boggling.

But there’s a solid supporting cast, too, even if the team is senior heavy, with a small junior class. Luke Bubnowski has rushed for 402 yards and two touchdowns, while Sean Arcelay is Walsh’s top target, with 38 catches for 616 yards and nine scores, while Zach Favreau had 22 for 391 yards and six TDs.

On the defensive side, the Mountaineers have logged a whopping 13 picks on the season, five from Favreau, and four from Chase Hawthorne.

Every player mentioned above is a senior, making this an experienced group.

Hanover Park comes in at 5-4, after a 9-1 campaign last year, though they suffered a first-round defeat in this very section at the hands of Becton, 26-22.

This will be the first meeting with Hanover Park since a pair of tussles in the Eisenhower administration. Bernards won both: 46-0 in 1956 and 20-19 in 1957.

Those interceptions may not come in too handy on Friday night however, as the Hornets like to run the ball. They’ve only thrown for 666 yards this season, 500 from starting QB Vin Fusella, who has six touchdown passes to his credit, but seven interceptions.

The runningback room is balanced. Junior Mark Perillo leads the way with 582 yards ans six touchdowns on 126 carries, while senior Luke Morgese has 465 and five scores, and fellow senior Rocco Zirpoli has 285 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Click below to hear pregame interview with both head coaches:

Bernards head coach Jon Simoneau with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko
Hanover Park head coach Nick Liberato with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel

by Mike Pavlichko

Bernards girls set program record with 24th win, sending home Hanover Park in North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals

The 2024-25 season was a big deal for the Bernards’ girls’ basketball program, setting a new school record with 23 wins. They went all the way to the North 2, Group 2 semifinals before bowing out to Caldwell.

Naturally, the question becomes: “What do you do for an encore?”

Well, how about 24 wins, another new program record, and another trip to the semifinals?

Check, and check.

Second-seed Bernards survived a slow first quarter – in which they trailed 5-4 by the time it was over – but woke up in the second quarter, and finished out with a 45-25 win over seventh-seed Hanover Park Saturday afternoon in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 quarterfinals.

Now, at 24-4, the Mountaineers will be back home at least one more time – the benefit of a two-seed – to host defending champion Madison (21-6) in the sectional semifinals Tuesday night at 7 pm.

While Aletha Reynolds led Bernards with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds – the 15th time she’s accomplished the feat this season, while also dishing out six assists – head coach Brett Bisconti may have been even more impressed with the defensive effort.

While his team was a bit sloppy early on the offensive end, they held Hanover Park to single digits in each quarter of the game, and have held their first two state tournament opponents – including 15th-sed Lyndhurst in the opener – to 25 points apiece.

Click below for postgame comments from Bernards’ head coach Brett Bisconti with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: