Ramsey, N.J. — Don Bosco Prep found redemption Friday night.
In a rematch of last year’s New Jersey Non-Public A state championship game, the No. 24 Ironmen defeated longtime rival St. Joseph Regional 23-10 in the MaxPreps Game of the Week, avenging their championship-game loss from a season ago.
Don Bosco did it without an offensive touchdown until the second half.
Instead, the Ironmen relied on a dominant defensive effort, opportunistic play and a game-changing special teams performance. Four St. Joseph turnovers ultimately proved too costly for the Green Knights, as Don Bosco repeatedly turned mistakes into points.
St. Joseph came out aggressively and grabbed an early lead when Andrew Wilson powered into the end zone from 3-yards out during the opening quarter.
The advantage didn’t last long.
Senior Isaiah Alvarez immediately changed the momentum when he fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 92 yards for a touchdown. Don Bosco missed the extra point, leaving St. Joseph with a 7-6 lead.
The Ironmen’s offense struggled to find consistency throughout much of the first half, but the defense kept creating opportunities.
St. Joseph quarterback William Mitchell, a freshman, was pressured into a costly mistake late in the half. On third down, Mitchell’s pass was intercepted at the 20-yard line by Don Bosco’s Joaquin Phillips, who raced untouched into the end zone for a pick-six.
The defensive touchdown gave the Ironmen a 13-7 advantage and shifted the momentum firmly toward Don Bosco.
The Ironmen’s defense continued to make life difficult for St. Joseph, recovering two fumbles during the first half in addition to Phillips’ interception.
Don Bosco added to its lead before halftime when its kicker connected on a 34-yard field goal, sending the Ironmen into the locker room with a 16-7 advantage.
Don Bosco Pulls Away
The Green Knights needed a strong start to the second half, but Don Bosco’s defense continued to dictate the game.
The Ironmen finally produced their first offensive touchdown of the night in the third quarter.
Running back Ca’si Thomas, who finished with 80 yards on 23 carries, capped a drive by powering into the end zone from 1 yard out.
The touchdown extended Don Bosco’s lead to 23-7 and gave the Ironmen some breathing room.
St. Joseph refused to go away quietly.
With 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Kyle Salinas drilled a 39-yard field goal, trimming the Don Bosco advantage to 23-10 and giving the Green Knights some momentum heading into the final period.
But the Ironmen’s defense responded when it mattered most.
It was a complete defensive performance that allowed the Ironmen to win despite limited offensive production for much of the night.
St. Joseph continued to look for a way back into the game, but Don Bosco consistently prevented the Green Knights from putting together the sustained drive they needed. The Ironmen’s defense held firm throughout the fourth quarter and protected the 13-point advantage.
Late in the game, St. Joseph had another opportunity to make things interesting, but Don Bosco’s defense came through with another interception while the Green Knights were driving, effectively ending the comeback attempt.
Defense Makes the Difference
Four turnovers proved to be the difference.
While St. Joseph’s defense did an impressive job limiting Don Bosco’s offense for long stretches, the Green Knights could not overcome the mistakes that repeatedly gave the Ironmen favorable field position and points.
Don Bosco’s defense recovered two fumbles in the first half, recorded Phillips’ pick-six and added another interception late in the fourth quarter.
A Night of Redemption
Friday night’s victory carried added significance for Don Bosco Prep.
The Ironmen had watched St. Joseph celebrate a Non-Public A state championship last season after defeating them in the title game. This time, Don Bosco controlled the game’s most important moments and walked away with a statement victory against its North Jersey rival.
The win also highlighted the importance of complementary football. Don Bosco scored through its defense, special teams and running game while forcing four turnovers.
The Ironmen will have another opportunity to celebrate their program’s history as they honor their undefeated 2006 state championship team. That team finished 12-0 and featured future NFL players Matt Simms and Justin Trattou.
For the current Don Bosco team, Friday’s victory provided something of its own to celebrate.
The Ironmen didn’t need an explosive offensive performance to defeat their rival. They relied on defense, special teams, physical running and timely execution to turn last year’s disappointment into this year’s victory.
Against St. Joseph, Don Bosco Prep made sure the ending belonged to the Ironmen.
