Programs that have won as many state titles as Don Bosco Prep has -- not to mention two of the national variety, too -- simply don’t do moral victories.

And, certainly, neither does Dan Sabella.

The fiery, intense coach arrived at the Ramsey non-public school this off-season with two state championships on his resume, including one just three years ago at nearby Paramus Catholic.

Moral victories aren’t in his DNA.

So while Friday night's 35-21 defeat at the hands of Washington D.C. power Gonzaga might look better than the 56-21 demolition it suffered last week out on the west coast against St. John Bosco (Calif.), the Ironmen still enter their bye week 0-2.

"I feel like that was a winnable game," Sabella said following the loss to MaxPreps' 11th-ranked team nationally in its XCellent 25 poll. "And we let it get away from us."

For the second straight week, the Don Bosco defense was up against a quarterback that you'll be seeing playing major Division I college football in the near future.

Last week, it was St. John Bosco’s Clemson-bound senior DJ Uiagalelei erupting for a 5-touchdown performance

This week, it was Gonzaga’s junior standout Caleb Williams, a four-star prospect who holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU and Penn State, among others.

“Those guys, man, they’re just really talented players,” said Sabella, who made it a point to seek out Williams and congratulate him himself following the game.

“But going up against these guys, that’s how you get better. We haven’t ducked anyone and we’re going to be better for it in the end. ... Tonight, that kid was the difference-maker in the game.”

Williams had a hand in all five Gonzaga touchdowns, and essentially single-handedly erased an early 14-0 deficit himself in the first half.

Following two first-half touchdown runs from Don Bosco’s Jalen Berger, of 17 and 9 yards, which put the Ironmen up two scores, Williams and Co. outscored Don Bosco Prep, 35-7, the rest of the way.

Don Bosco’s lone points following the fast start came courtesy of a blocked punt by Timmy Hinspeter which was recovered by Jahmir Greene in the end zone, which broke a 14-all halftime tie.

The Ironmen offense wasn’t helped out by the fact Berger missed various points of the second half battling leg cramps, including being off the field on a key 3rd-and-1 that went for a loss of 4 with Bosco trailing, 28-21, in the fourth quarter.

“Whether he was going to get that carry or not, when he’s out there, it’s another guy they’ve got to worry about,” Sabella said.

Trailing, 14-0, Gonzaga’s Williams unleashed an 81-yard touchdown run with 9:25 left in the first half to put Gonzaga on the board. His first completion didn’t come until there was 7:20 left in the first half, but moments later, Williams delivered a 19-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 14.

Both teams threatened before half for go-ahead scores, with Don Bosco reaching the Gonzaga 34 but failing to convert a 4th-and-inches following a high snap on a Wildcat that lost 16 yards.

Starting at the 50, Gonzaga reached the Don Bosco 10 with just seconds left before half. Bosco defensive back Arsheen Jiles, though, came through with a key interception in the end zone with five seconds before the break to keep it tied at 14.

The Ironmen went ahead, 21-14, on the blocked punt recovered in the end zone, but a winded Don Bosco defense forced to stay on the field for two consecutive drives allowed a 12-play, 80-yard game-tying touchdown drive, capped by WIlliams’ second TD pass, from 9 yards out, to Justin Ennis with 4:39 left in the third. Don Bosco’s offense had yet to see the field in the second half at that point.

"That's just gut check time," Sabella said. "You've got to find a way to dig deep and get a stop somewhere there. Their offense was on the field the same amount of time as our defense was. You've just got to find a way."

The killer on that drive was a 30-yard completion on a 3rd-and-20 near midfield. On Gonzaga’s ensuing possession, Williams broke a 40-yard touchdown run with 10:55 left in the fourth to give the Eagles their first lead of the night at 28-21, a lead they would not relinquish.

Williams added a 35-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Turner with 5:51 left for the final points of the night.

“We definitely battled and we did some real good things in that first half,” Sabella said. “But in the second half, we had them in some tough situations in third-and-longs, had them backed up a few times and if we just could get a stop, we’d have some good field position and maybe have a chance to go up two scores. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get those stops when we needed them. But I definitely believe we made a jump from last week.”

Don Bosco Prep won’t return to action until Sept. 20, when they play host to West Orange.

After that?

Bergen Catholic comes to town on Sept. 27.

“There were a couple plays tonight that if they go your way, it’s a different game,” Sabella said. “We’re going to make those plays as the season goes on. I believe in this group. There’s a lot of football ahead of us. We’ve just got to keep getting better and better.”