For the second time in three weeks, Don Bosco Prep welcomed a top-five ranked opponent into Granatell Stadium and sent it back with a loss.
10/15 - 7:00 PM Football Final
DePaul 14
Don Bosco Prep 17Complete Box Score »
On Friday night, it was Nick Severin’s interception on the 1-yard line with 4:46 remaining in the game that allowed Don Bosco Prep, No. 11 in the NJ.com Top 20, to hold off No. 4 DePaul, 17-14, in Ramsey.
DePaul’s defense forced a punt, giving the offense another possession, but it stalled on its own 43 when it turned the ball over on downs. From there, Don Bosco Prep (4-3) was able to successfully run out the clock with running back Ronnie Heath’s conversion of a fourth-and-1 with 40 seconds left sealing Ironmen’s third consecutive victory - all coming against ranked competition.
During the streak, which includes wins over then No. 2 St. Peter’s Prep and then-No. 13 Delbarton, the Ironmen have allowed just 38 points.
DePaul (5-2) struck first when it took the game’s opening drive 91 yards, capped off by A.J. Rodriguez’s quarterback sneak for a 1-yard TD with 2:30 left in the first quarter. The lead was short-lived as Don Bosco Prep moved in front for good on a QB sneak of its own when Nick Minicucci ran it from 1-yard out and converted the ensuing point-after to take a 7-6 lead 1:31 into the second quarter.
Jack Donnelly’s field goal increased the lead to 10-6. Then, with just 20 seconds left in the first half, Minicucci threw a backwards pass to receiver Kyle Bohm, who found tight end Bobby Mays open in the front corner of the end zone to make it 17-6.
DePaul trimmed the deficit when Rodriguez connected with Jake Kucera for a 2-yard TD pass with 10:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. A successful two-point pass from Rodriguez to Marshawn Ferguson made it a 17-14.
DePaul got the ball again and drove all the way down to the Don Bosco Prep 14 before Rodriguez’s pass was was tipped and landed in the hands of Severin.
Another state-ranked challenge awaits the Ironmen next week when it travels to Montvale to face No. 7 St. Joseph (Mont.) on Oct. 22. DePaul will host Paramus Catholic next Friday.