¨October 1, 1961¨

Although the date October 1, 1961 might sound unassuming to the current residents of North Bergen, I think that North Bergenites should remember that date. It was the day that unofficially cemented North Bergen as a football town. On that picturesque autumn Sunday the North Bergen Bruins took the field for the very first time. The Bruins´ untested and untried players boarded their buses and made the trip up to Winton White Stadium to take on the Tri-County Catholic Champions: St. Cecilia´s High School.

North Bergen starters circa 1961

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal Archives

6,600 fans descended on Winton White Stadium to watch the North Bergen Bruins take on the powerhouse that was St. Ceciala´s. The stakes were high for North Bergen´s legendary coach, Joe Coviello. Coviello stated earlier in the week,

¨I can´t say what the boys will do once they get into an actual game¨

Needless to say expectations were high for Coviello. Coach Coviello already had a storied career as a head coach at West New York´s Memorial High School. His tenure at North Bergen would be the beginning of a new chapter in his football career. Nevertheless, Coviello and the Bruins were steep underdogs that day. The Jersey Journal reported:

¨...and North Bergen is a slim choice to win the first football game...¨

Lou Sirignano (left), Gary Muccino (center) and John Frangipane

All started in the first game in NBHS Football history

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal Archives

Despite what the papers and critics said about the Coviello lead Bruins, they were a tough team ready to prove they could play amongst the big name high school programs of the day. The Bruins started the game off with the opening kick off, boated by Jiggs Finkelday. The defense took the field and was described by the end of the game as something ¨which resembled a meat grinder.¨ The first tackle was made by Lou Sirignano* after St. Cecilia picked up 3 yards. In the same series, Steve Feldman* recovered the first fumble and put the Bruins offense on the field lead by quarterback Al Zappula. The Bruins first play from the line of scrimmage was a run play where Gary Muccino* plowed ahead for 2 yards. Zappula missed his first target, but made up for it by hitting Steve Markov* for a gain of seven, and a first down. The first half went back and forth as a defensive battle was under way.

Gary Muccino scores the first touchdown in North Bergen history

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal Archives

It wasn´t until the closing moments of the first half that those in attendance saw a score. North Bergen´s Gary Muccino* blasted his way through a hole made by the offense line for a 3 yard touchdown run. The Bruins drove the ball 64 yards and left St. Cecilia´s with only 2 minutes in the half to respond. The touchdown was capped off with a catch from Fred Terranova* picking up the extra point and sending the Bruins into the half up 7-0.

Gary Muccino celebrates North Bergen first score in school history

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal Archives

The Bruins came out in the second half with the momentum. However, the home team refused to give up. The second half played much like the first. The fans witnessed a game for the ages. A defensive battle which both teams refused to give the other an inch. The Bruins defense played like a unit that had played together for years. Much like the first half, the second half came down to last minute heroics. Nearing the end of the fourth quarter St. Cecilia´s was marching down the field. A misthrown ball was picked off by the Bruin´s John Baty*. A stunned St. Cecilia´s fan base could do nothing but watch as Al Zappula and the Bruins offense rolled down the field starting on their own 20 yard line. The Bruins put the nail in the coffin as Ron Catoggi ran in the game winner, with Baty scored the extra point. 

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal

The Bruins returned to North Bergen victorious. A 14-0 win over a championship caliber team was nothing short of a fairy tale. Yet the Bruins earned that win. The hard hitting defense along with the cool and collected offense made a statement that day. The stats speak for themselves:

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal Archives

Coach Coviello was ecstatic after the win, stating he ¨hadn´t felt this good since beating St. Cecilia´s back in 1946¨, oddly enough that was his first game as Memorial High School´s head coach. Coviello all week leading up to the game was worried about ¨cohesion.¨ The boys on the team never played a game together, some transferred in from other schools and others would experience the game for the first time on the field. But Coviello got just that, ¨cohesion.¨ The game played that fall Sunday set in motion a level of expectation that is still prevalent in North Bergen´s football program.

1961-62 North Bergen Bruins

Courtesy of Dan Hentze

* denotes first player in school history