1-Don Bosco Prep (5-4)

Last week: No. 1

Don Bosco Prep is back on top. It’s unknown when exactly the last time the Ironmen held the No. 1 spot in the NJ.com Top 20, but it’s been a while. Following a heartbreaking, last-second loss to St. Peter’s Prep back on Oct. 12, Don Bosco Prep was sitting at 2-4. But then, everything changed. Three straight wins over St. Joseph (Mont.), DePaul and Paramus Catholic, coupled with some stunning results in that stretch (including last week’s Nos. 1, 2 and 3 teams falling), has resulted in the Ironmen owning the distinctions as “the team no one wants to see” in the state playoffs and the No. 1-ranked team in New Jersey. First-year coach Dan Sabella has the Ironmen playing their best football at the right time of the year, a staple throughout his career, and RBs Kyle Monangai and Jalen Berger have been on fire the past month of the season.

Schedule

Aug. 30: at St. John Bosco (Ca.), L 56-21

Sept. 6: vs. Gonzaga (D.C.), L 35-21

Sept. 20: vs. West Orange, W 50-18

Sept. 27: vs. Bergen Catholic, L 23-17

Oct. 5: at Pope John, W 38-0

Oct. 11: at St. Peter’s Prep, L 26-22

Oct. 19: at St. Joseph (Mont.), W 35-14

Oct. 25: vs. DePaul, W 42-6

Nov. 1: vs. Paramus Catholic, W 49-7