EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Southington Blue Knights traveled 104 miles to do battle with Bergen Catholic Crusaders at Giants Stadium Friday night.

That would be about all the distance the Blue Knights would rack up as their offense was shut down and they found themselves at the wrong end of a 27-6 rout.
"I know some people may have expected this to happen," said Southington head coach Bill Mella. "I beg to differ. We stood toe to toe with them and punched back."
The Knights were able to get the first swing as they marched down the field with a seven-minute drive to open the game, cumulating with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Josh Lamson to Ryan Borawski. The kick failed, putting the Blue Knights up 6-0.
Lamson carried the team down the field on the opening drive, showing his uncanny ability to scramble out of danger. He kept the Southington drive alive with a 20-yard gain on a crucial third-and-10.
The remainder of the first half belonged to Bergen, as it went on to score three unanswered touchdowns, thanks to their shifty running back Nick Gerst.
Gerst put Bergen on the board at the end of the first with an 18-yard run. After an interception, Gerst set up another scoring opportunity, putting together rushes of 31 and 26 yards. Bergen quarterback Rob Eckrote capped off Gerst's march with a 2-yard sneak, putting Bergen up 14-6.
Southington's Jon Kelleher picked off Eckrote in the second quarter, but the Blue Knights nullified the play, coughing the ball up with their own interception on the ensuing drive.
Gerst would break through the Blue Knight line again before the half to give Bergen a 20-6 lead.
A low snap on a punt attempt forced Southington kicker Bill Zukauskas to fall on the ball at the 16-yard line, setting up a 9-yard touchdown run for Gerst and a 20-6 halftime lead for Bergen.
A scoreless third quarter was highlighted by the Southington defense, which made two stops including a fourth down conversion attempt, forced a three-and-out and recovered a fumble at their own two-yard line. Matt Roncaioli also grabbed an Eckrote pass for Southington 'ssecond pick of the game to end the third quarter.
The Blue Knight defense kept any come-from-behind hopes alive in the closing quarter, as Ryan Gemmell snagged an Eckrote pass in the red zone to stall a Bergen drive. Kelleher took out some aggression on a Crusader, knocking his helmet clear off as he took him to the ground.
"They were a very scrappy team," Bergen head coach Fred Stengel. "They had a good plan and I have to say they were pretty much what I expected. They came out scrappy and scrapped some more. They never gave up and played hard the whole game."
The Southington defense held tight until Eckrote was able to penetrate the line and slip through for a 1-yard score and 27-6 Crusader advantage.
"Coach always says to be the best you have to play the best," said Lamson. "I have great respect for the coaching staff and especially the players of Bergen. They are going to have a great season."
While the final score read 27-6, the result was much different for coach Mella.
"I was very pleased with my team and staff," Mella said. "Knowing the outcome, if I was asked to come here again I would say yes again and again. This is the type of experience that is going to take us through adversity the rest of the season."

Bergen Catholic 27, Southington 6
At Giants Staduim, East Rutherford, N.J.
Bergen Catholic 07-13-00-07-27
Southington 06-00-00-00-6

First Quarter
S-Borawski 3 pass from Lamson (kick failed)
B-Gerst 18 run (kick)

Second Quarter
B-Eckrote 2 run (kick)
B-Gerst 9 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter
B-Eckrote 1 run (kick)