Don Bosco releases 2023 football schedule: Everything you need to know
It has been eight years since Don Bosco won a state football title.
We don’t know whether the Ironmen will win it all in 2023, but we now know the path they will take in the regular season as the school released the schedule earlier this week.
Ironmen coach Dan Sabella enters his fifth season at the helm of the program. He’s taken Don Bosco to the state finals three times and lost all three, including a 45-0 defeat by Bergen Catholic last year at MetLife Stadium.
The Ironmen enter 2023 needing to find a replacement for starting quarterback Nick Minnicucci, who is graduating. Central Regional quarterback Deven Sisler recently transferred in after a strong sophomore year. The Ironmen are loaded at running back with Nolan James and Logan Bush making a formidable one-two punch, but lose a lot on the offensive line.
Don’t remind Bosco fans, but every other member of the North Jersey Big Six has won a state title since the Ironmen last won: Bergen Catholic (last won in 2022), DePaul (2022 in Non-Public B), Paramus Catholic (2016), St. Peter’s Prep (2019) and St. Joseph (2018).
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Here’s a week-by-week breakdown of the Ironmen’s 2023 schedule. They will have a bye in early October. Exact times and dates are subject to change:
Aug. 25: at Archbishop Spalding (Md.), 7 p.m.
The Ironmen whipped Spalding, 48-28, in their season opener last year, then Spalding went on to win 11 straight and their first MIAA-A Conference title in school history.
Spalding brings back quarterback Malik Washington (offers from Arkansas and Boston College) and star linebacker Keyshawn Flowers (Notre Dame, USC and Miami). Don Bosco hasn’t won a game played outside of New Jersey since 2015.
Sept. 1: vs. Erasmus Hall (N.Y.) 7 p.m.
The Dutchmen rolled through the New York PSAL, posting six shutouts, including their last four games to win a fourth-straight PSAL championship.
They feature four-star edge rusher Caden Brown (Penn State, Michigan State and Rutgers).
Sept. 9: at St. Joseph Regional, 1 p.m.
Don Bosco gets going in North Jersey with a road clash against the Green Knights.
Don Bosco downed St. Joe’s 44-35 in 2022, and thumped the Green Knights in the 2021 playoffs. Sabella is 4-2 against St. Joe’s in his time at Don Bosco.
Sept. 15: vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.), 7 p.m.
These two state powers used to meet regularly, but this will be their first meeting since 2016.
The Hawks have become serious Pennsylvania powers, finishing 20th in the USA TODAY Super 25 rankings last year (one spot ahead of Bergen Catholic). They went 12-1 last year, and claimed their seventh 6A state title.
The Hawks return quarterback Samaj Jones (Penn State, Tennessee), wide receiver David Washington Jr. (Maryland, Kentucky) and running back Isaiah West (Penn State, U.Conn).
Sept. 22: vs. Bergen Catholic, 7 p.m.
Think this one might be circled on the Don Bosco calendar? I think so. Losing 45-0 will do that.
Still, the Ironmen are the only New Jersey team to beat Bergen Catholic in the last three years. The Ironmen lead the overall series 41-35-2. Will anyone break out special jerseys for the occasion?
Sept. 29: vs. St. Peter’s Prep, 7 p.m.
The Marauders have always been a thorn in the Ironmen’s side. St. Peter’s Prep went 7-4 last year and gave Don Bosco all it could handle in a 35-26 loss.
Watch out for Marauders running back Jalen “Speedy” Cline. He can go.
Oct. 14: at Seton Hall Prep, 1 p.m.
The Ironmen have dominated the series against the Pirates, losing to them just once since 2000.
Last year, Don Bosco took two from the Pirates, including a 48-14 win in the Non-Public A semifinals.
Oct. 20: vs. Paramus Catholic, 7 p.m.
Don Bosco has won the last five meetings against the Paladins, including a 56-21 win last year.
During his two years at Paramus Catholic, Sabella went 3-0 against the Ironmen.
Oct. 27: at DePaul, 7 p.m.
The Ironmen get a shot at the defending Non-Public B champs and rising sophomore quarterback Derek Zammit. The Ironmen held off the Spartans, 28-25, in 2022, a game that seemed to motivate the Spartans.
DePaul has beaten Don Bosco twice in the modern era, in 2017 and 2013.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Don Bosco Prep NJ football: 2023 schedule breakdown
