The epic rivalry between Paramus Catholic and Don Bosco Prep continued on Saturday in a nail-biting playoff game. The two teams met in New Jersey’s Non-Public Group 4 semifinals.
Going into the game, the Paladins boasted a 9-1 record, ranking 13th in the DigitalSports National Football Rankings and 1st in New Jersey. Bosco, ranked 32nd in the nation and 4th in the state, entered the game with a 7-3 record.
Don Bosco looked strong early on, leading 14-0 in the early minutes of the second quarter. Paramus got things going when Marquis Spence hit Mark Michaud for a 26-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 14-6 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Ironmen started things off with a field goal. Quarterback Willy Hansen responded for the Paladins with a 1-yard run for a touchdown.
With the fourth quarter starting out at 17-12, both teams did not allow either to get any momentum. Possession changed hands back and forth due to two excellent defenses.
When Paramus turned the ball over on downs with 2:25 left on the clock, things looked bleak for the Paladins. Then on the very next play, Paramus stripped the ball from Don Bosco’s quarterback and recovered the fumble.
After working their way down the field, the Paladins lined up twelve yards out. Willy Hansen set to snap the ball, and Marquis Spence lined up out on the wing. Hansen started the play, and the duo linked for a 12-yard score with 21.9 seconds left, putting the Paladins up 18-17.
Following a failed two-point conversion, Paramus kicked off to Bosco, but the Ironmen did not have enough time to get into scoring range and the Paladins walked away with a 1-point victory.
Advancing to the finals, Paramus is set to face St. Peter’s Prep, ranked 30th in the country and 2nd in the state. The game will take place after a two-week break on December 5 at 8:00pm.
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