There will be some clips in Saturday’s film session for head coach Dan Sabella to nitpick, but his team got the job done on Friday.
Don Bosco Prep, No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20, put together its best offensive point total since 2019 on its way to a 48-28 season-opening win over Archbishop Spalding under the lights in Ramsey.
8/26 - 7:00 PM Football Final
Archbishop Spalding (MD) 28
Don Bosco Prep 48Complete Box Score »
The Ironmen led 27-0 in the third quarter before trading scores with the Cavaliers later on in the second half, eventually seeing their lead trimmed to 13, however they got their desired end result – a 1-0 start.
“We’re not happy about making it interesting there at the end, but you have to enjoy it of course,” Sabella said. “We had a really good first half and we felt good about that. We just have to stop those big plays. We’re going to go back to work and look at that stuff and figure it out.”
The offense started with senior quarterback Nick Minicucci. The Delaware pledge gashed Archbishop Spalding through the air with three touchdowns and 279 yards and took defenders on with several chunk runs, totaling 97 on seven carries on the night.
It’s the confidence Sabella loves seeing out of his captain and it’s what gets the entire team going.
Football: No.8 Seton Hall Prep defeats No.3 Don Bosco Prep 14-20.
Don Bosco Prep's NIck Minicucci (16) looks to pass against Seton Hall Prep during the football game at Kelly Athletic Complex on 9/11/21.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media
“Nick had a really good preseason,” Sabella said. “He has worked since the day he got here. You saw it early on [tonight] with the confidence and decision making. His arm is stronger and he’s another year older and faster. We’re going to be a really good offense when he plays well.”
Minicucci dished out props to the rest of the offense for executing what they wanted to do. Senior running back Ronnie Heath found pay dirt twice on the ground, including the game’s first score, as did senior Dan Parisi on receptions from Minicucci.
Senior Nasim Cosby caught a 70-yard touchdown, senior Omaree Walker took a jet sweep 23 yards to the house and sophomore Nolan James capped the night with a four-yard scamper to make up the rest of the team’s scoring.
“We looked really good,” Minicucci said. “We have a lot of weapons and almost everyone got the ball today. Our offensive line makes the ship go. We wouldn’t have won this game without those guys. We’re not going to get too high or too low, but we’re really excited.”
Archbishop Spalding saw Tyler Brown go 91 yards on a kickoff return touchdown and standout sophomore quarterback Malik Washington throw for multiple scores. He also ran one in on a fourth down late in the fourth quarter.
Sabella has an idea of what needs to be corrected defensively and knows the talent is there.
“We’re a little younger on defense than we are on offense, but we have a lot of capable guys in there,” he said. “Obviously, we’re hoping to get better each week, but we have to get in shape. It’s going to be hot in Florida.”
The Ironmen will travel to the Orlando area next week to take on one of its best teams in Edgewater (FL).
They’re looking forward to another out of state challenge.
“This is my first time going 1-0 and I’ve been a varsity starter for four years, so it’s awesome to get this win,” senior Chase Bisontis said. “We can do a lot better though. We’re going down to Florida to play Edgewater and they’re a good team. We’re just trying to go 1-0 every week.”
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Ryan Patti covers the Super Football Conference and NJIC. He can be reached at rpatti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanwpatti.