Even though Pascack Valley was able to shut out Bergenfield and outscore the Bears 12-0 in the second half, a missed PAT and failed two-point conversion proved costly in Valley’s 13-12 loss on Saturday. 

A few plays after a Panthers’ Sr. WR Conor Higgins touchdown, which made it a one-possession game midway through the fourth quarter, a botched snap by the Bears allowed PV So. LB Colin Krause to recover the loose ball and return possession to the Panthers in Bergenfield territory. A couple of plays later, it was Valley Sr. TE Brandon Flanagan who scored the touchdown to make it 13-12, Bergenfield. Valley then elected to try to take the lead by going for two, but the attempt failed as the Bears’ secondary defense was able to force PV Sr. QB. Jake Crawbuck into an incomplete pass.

Valley was able to force another fumble on its next defensive possession, which gave the Panthers another chance to take the lead; however, an offensive pass interference penalty on Higgins’s long reception, which would’ve put Valley in the red zone, set PV back 15 yards. The third and fourth down passes were incomplete, giving Bergenfield the ball back and allowing the Bears to kneel out the game.

Dual-threat Jr. QB Gabe Perez and Sr. RB Christian Valerio were Bergenfield’s main offensive producers, combining for 194 total yards throughout the game (86 for Perez and 108 for Valerio). 

A 70-yard rushing touchdown from Valerio made it 13-0 Bergenfield early in the second quarter. The touchdown came on the ensuing drive after an interception thrown by Valley Sr. QB Jake Crawbuck in the red zone. 

Another key turnover occurred mid-first quarter when a botched snap on a punt attempt forced Valley Sr. P Brandon Flanagan to accidentally kneel to get the ball, forcing the play dead and giving Bergenfield possession at Valley’s 12-yard line. That drive would end in a three-yard scramble from Bergenfield’s Jr. QB Gabe Perez for a touchdown. 

The loss drops the Panthers to 2-6 and concludes their regular season, ending their chance at playoff football. The team, however, has been invited to a three-round consolation tournament that features other teams from its group that also didn’t make the playoffs. Valley’s first test will be against Demarest, a team the Panthers beat in overtime earlier this season, on Thursday night at home.