Who needs a healthy starting quarterback?

For the second straight year, Bergen Catholic overcame an injury that kept its starting signal-caller on the bench to defeat DePaul. The Crusaders relied on a strong running game and an aggressive defense to pull out the football road win, 21-7.

Josh McKenzie ran for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the workhorse of the backfield with 22 carries. Rahmir Johnson ran the ball just 10 times, but piled up 119 yards, including a 50-yard scoring burst.

Sophomore quarterback Tom Sharkey was solid in filling in for the injured Johnny Langan. Sharkey only threw the ball 11 times, completing six for 37 yards as the Crusaders kept the ball on the ground.

The Bergen Catholic defense made sure 21 points was enough. The Crusaders bottled up the DePaul running game, and sacked the Spartans' quarterbacks seven times. Bergen Catholic also came up with a pair of key interceptions.

Vinnie DePalma scored the only DePaul touchdown on a short run on the first play of the second quarter. DePalma carried nine times for 35 yards, while Chase Hebron had 36 rushing yards.

The Spartans used two quarterbacks, with Shelton Applewhite throwing for 83 yards and also catching a pair of passes from Ta'quan Roberson. Ronnie Hickman had five receptions for 57 yards.

These two teams, which were division rivals over the past several years, are now in separate divisions in the new North Jersey Super Football Conference.

Bergen Catholic improves to 3-0 and meets division foe Paramus Catholic this coming week. DePaul is 0-2 and will face Don Bosco Prep in its next game.

For sports video highlights of this New Jersey and NJSFC high school football game, click play in the box at left.