DON BOSCO PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW, 2019: NEW COACH, BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR PERENNIAL POWER

Don Bosco Prep Ironmen Head coach: Dan Sabella, 128-68 overall (at Bogota, Paramus, Paramus Catholic and Ridgefield Park), 1st season with Don Bosco Last year: 6-5; Lost in Non-Public Group 4 semifinals to Bergen Catholic, 35-17 2019 classification: Non-Public Group 4 Starting SI rating: 87 Conference and division: Super Football Conference, United Red Division opponents: Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph (Mont.), Paramus Catholic, St. Peter’s Prep Key players: Jalen Berger, Sr., RB; Kyle Monangai, Sr., RB; Jahquil Batts, Sr., QB; Colin Ramos, Sr., LB; Jahmir Greene, Sr., DL; Mike Courtney, Sr., DB; Arsheen Jiles, Sr., DB; Mike Fallah, Sr., OL; Romaine Robinson, Sr., DB Outlook: After struggling to just two wins in 2017, former coach Mike Teel began turning things around in his second year with the program, tripling its win total last season. Teel has since stepped down and Sabella, who won a pair of sectional titles at Bogota in 2006 and Paramus Catholic in 2016, enters with high expectations and an impressive resume. Sabella has a history of winning big and quickly and he’s beginning at Don Bosco Prep with a strong, fast defense -- headlned by Ramos and Greene -- and a talented slew of skill position players. Sabella and his team will be tested in a big way right out of the gate this season, as the program is heading west to take on national power St. John Bosco, a unanimous top five team in the country. Big storyline: Just how dynamic will a backfield of Berger and Monangai be this fall and what kind of progress will Batts show under center? Expect Berger, who remains uncommitted, to serve a variety of different roles in Sabella’s offense and both running backs to make up one of the best 1-2 punches in New Jersey. One of the things to watch this year will be Don Bosco Prep’s ability to close out games, something Sabella is a point of emphasis this preseason. 2019 schedule Aug. 30: at St. John Bosco (Calif.) Sept. 6: vs. Gonzaga (D.C.) Sept. 20: vs. West Orange Sept. 27: vs. Bergen Catholic Oct. 5: at Pope John Oct. 11: at St. Peter's Prep Oct. 19: at St. Joseph (Mont.) Oct. 25: vs. DePaul Nov. 1: vs. Paramus Catholic

DON BOSCO PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW, 2019: NEW COACH, BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR PERENNIAL POWER

Photo Credit: John Munson