BOSCO DUMPS PREP

RAMSEY - For the St. Peter's Prep football team, the roadblock that is top-ranked Don Bosco Prep remains firmly planted in the Marauders' path toward a Non-Public, Group 4 state title.

St. Peter's, ranked fourth in the state, lost its fourth consecutive game to the Ironmen last night, falling 42-9 in Ramsey in a highly anticipated matchup of New Jersey football powers.

"I don't think they're in our head, but they have our number," said St. Peter's Prep coach Rich Hansen. "When they get the mojo on us, they start rolling, and we don't know how to stop them yet."

The game, which can be seen on MSG Varsity, was the first regular season meeting between the two football giants.

Though Prep (6-2) took a first-quarter lead when Kevin Cosgrove drilled a 28-yard field goal, Don Bosco's electric running back Tony Jones (15 carries, 183 yards, 3 TDs) had an answer. Jones took the subsequent kickoff 90 yards to the house and the Ironmen never looked back.

On Jones' very next carry, he sprinted 57 yards into the end zone in a display of raw speed and athleticism, extending the Bosco lead to 14-3.

"We gave up big plays," said Hansen. "We can't give up big plays to those guys."

While Jones ran wild on the Prep defense, the Marauders' prized tailback Savon Huggins was shut down by a fast and aggressive Ironmen defensive unit. Led by linebacker Steele DeVitto, Don Bosco held Huggins to 52 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Hansen praised Don Bosco (8-0) for its talent and execution, though he knows his squad did not play its best game.

"To beat them you have to play an A-game. I would love to have the opportunity to play an A-game against their A-game and see what happens," said Hansen. "When you don't play that kind of game against these guys you don't have a chance to win."

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