RED BANK -- If the pregame outlook was straight forward - a reigning state champion in its home opener against a team that finished under .500 last season - then the end result of which squad was thoroughly dominant for four quarters wasn't what you'd expect.
Yes, it was visiting Don Bosco Prep (1-1) that put on a clinic in the 44-0 victory over last year's Non-Public B state champ Red Bank Catholic (0-2) on Friday night. Of course Don Bosco is a perennial Non-Public A power, despite a few stumbles a year ago, but this one was lopsided from start to finish as the Ironmen scored touchdowns on six of their eight drives and pitched the shutout.
The result was also a homecoming party for Don Bosco's quarterback as he got bragging rights over old friend Frankie Williams, the quarterback for Red Bank Catholic.
Bragging rights for Don Bosco quarterback Deven Sisler in his Shore homecoming
"It's great to come back," said Don Bosco quarterback Deven Sisler. "Me and Frankie grew up together our whole lives. Our dads played at Maryland together. So it's great to go against my friend, and it's great to put up 44 points on him."
Sisler began his career at Central Regional in the Shore Conference before joining Don Bosco last season. After a difficult junior campaign, he looked sharp from the start against the Caseys as he set up the team's first touchdown with a 28-yard run on 4th and long.
"We've just got a lot of players that can make plays," Sisler said. "Makes my job really easy as far as a game like this."
Sisler followed up his success on the first drive with an excellent 20-yard touch pass to star sophomore Zakai Murphy, swiftly giving the Ironmen a two-touchdown lead. After a blocked punt set up another easy score, Don Bosco took a 21-0 lead to end the first quarter and never looked back.
The Caseys' offensive line had perhaps the biggest struggle as it could not provide time for Williams or space for the team's rushing attack but the truth is Bosco with relentless intensity had the upper hand in all three facets.
Don Bosco football trending up
"Give a lot of credit to the kids, they prepared well," said Don Bosco head coach Dan Sabella. "Anytime the offensive line starts to take control, everything kind of falls into place from there. I felt like we had that going for us early and then complimentary football right? Special teams, defense, flying around. So it was good. We needed it for confidence."
The Ironmen should be supremely confident as they prepare for their home opener against another out-of-state opponent in St. Anthony's of New York before a big matchup with Bergen Catholic at the end of the month.
"We're really together. Our team is the closest it's ever been, the closest team I've ever been on," said Sisler. "I really feel like we got it this year. On thing we gotta key on is going through struggles. We gotta be able to succeed and fight through those struggles to stay together."
The Ironmen already seemed to have profound camaraderie. There was a palpable intensity and pride on the sideline as the entire team was energized by the prospect of shutting out reigning state champs on the road. And the group rallied around a young player who experienced a personal tragedy, but still suited up and played for the team on Friday night even as the funeral was on Saturday.
"We had a young man, a young sophomore, who lost his dad last weekend," said Sabella. "He showed up in practice, showed up again tonight. It was great to be able to get him in the game. And that certainly helped motivate the guys. I mean, seeing him out there, that's what high school football is all about."
Although it's a difficult look for the Shore Conference to see a crown jewel program falter, there are still Shore ties at Don Bosco as the program looks to restore itself to the elite tier of Jersey high school football. Sisler has not forgotten his roots as he aims to lead the Ironmen to brighter future this fall.
"Me and Coach (Cody) High are both from the Shore, that's our offensive coordinator," said Sisler. "Both of us carry that Shore mindset up here and really just want to take it to everyone. Show them what the Shore is really about."
Early mishaps set the stage for long day for RBC
As impressive as Don Bosco appeared across all three facets and multiple levels of the depth chart, it was even more stunning to see Red Bank Catholic show so much futility at home. The Caseys did themselves no favors as they put themselves in an early hole.
After only getting one first down on their first three drives and nearly having their first two punts blocked, the Caseys appeared to get a bit too creative for their own good as they attempted for the second time to punt out of their standard spread formation. Don Bosco caught on to the special teams misdirection and blocked the punt, setting them up at the 2-yard line.
An early injury to standout linebacker Jamie Gutridge was another difficult setback, but even in his absence the Caseys defense was the team's only bright spot. The unit repeatedly put the Don Bosco offense in third and fourth down situations, but could never stand strong and get the stops they needed. It didn't help that the stagnant RBC offense kept putting the defense in tough situations.
The offense was flat in every way. The offensive line could not hold up long enough in pass protection for Williams to find receivers downfield, but even when the quarterback had time there was not much separation in the receivers. And when the team's dangerous players found open space, they couldn't make the extra man miss. While that's a credit to Don Bosco's open-field tackling, the Caseys' athletes were expected to be better.
The low point was a safety in the second quarter forced by Don Bosco's Gino Greco. And even when the Caseys made a final drive for pride, sacks kept setting the team back culminating with a final sack on fourth down.
There's not much to look back at from the disappointing home opener, but moving forward the team may need to experiment with different personnel packages and schemes to support the interior as they have to replace several key losses along the offensive line from last year.
Red Bank Catholic is still a favorite in the Shore's A North Division, although the coming matchup against rival Rumson-Fair Haven could be much closer than anyone might've expected coming into the year.
What's next for RBC and Don Bosco
Even after Red Bank Catholic lost a close opener to Delaware power Middletown and were dismantled at home against Don Bosco, the Caseys should a good runway to bounce back in the coming weeks. They'll go on the road to face a talented Long Branch team next Saturday, and then will have two more road matchups against Marlboro and Colts Neck before coming home for the big matchup against Rumson.
Don Bosco will host St. Anthony's next Friday night and then will get a bye week to rest up for their big matchup against Bergen Catholic on September 28.
Don Bosco Prep 44, Red Bank Catholic 0
Don Bosco Prep 21 9 7 7 - 44
Red Bank Catholic 0 0 0 0 - 0
1st Quarter
2-yard touchdown run by Dante DeLuca (Jack Donnelly kick)
20-yard touchdown pass from Deven Sisler to Zakai Murphy (Jack Donnelly kick).
2-yard touchdown run by Dante DeLuca (Jack Donnelly kick).
2nd Quarter
Safety on sack by Gino Greco.
8-yard touchdown run by Colin Brennan (Jack Donnelly kick).
3rd Quarter
Don Bosco: 1-yard touchdown run by Deven Sisler (Jack Donnelly kick).
4th Quarter
3-yard touchdown run by Jason Bocio (Jack Donnelly kick).
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ football: Ex-Shore QB sparks Don Bosco's win over Red Bank Catholic
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