Talk about starting the preseason with a tough opponent.
The Greenwich High School football team will travel to Ramsey, N.J., Tuesday to scrimmage national power Don Bosco Prep at 5 p.m. How good is Don Bosco Prep? Here’s a quick glance at the Ironmen.
They are coming off their third consecutive undefeated season – a season that saw them win the New Jersey State IAA Non-Public Group 4 championship for the sixth straight year.
Coached by Greg Toal, Don Bosco finished as the No. 1 team in the country in five national rankings last fall. Don Bosco, which beat rival Bergen Catholic 42-14 for the state championship, finished 11-0 in 2011, outscoring its opponents 452-92.
Seven seniors from last season’s Don Bosco squad will play collegiate football at the Division I football this fall. The list included: Elijah Shumate, running back/defensive back, Notre Dame; Leonte Caroo, wide receiver, Rutgers; defensive lineman Darius Hamilton, the son of former New York Giants defensive lineman Keith Hamilton, (Rutgers); linebacker Michael Strizak (Boston College); offensive lineman Michael Casimos (Akron), offensive lineman Tyler Samra (UConn) and safety Kyle Sakowski (Lafayette).
Though the Ironmen graduated these seven key players they return a lot of talent. One of the squad’s main strengths is its defensive line, which features seniors Alquadin Muhammad (6-4, 230) and Razohnn Gross (5’11, 215). Senior Spencer Scannell leads the linebacker corps for Don Bosco, which should also by keyed on offensive by the return of junior running back Aaron Guzman.
Touting a 46-game winning streak, the second longest streak in the nation, Don Bosco has dominated its N.J. foes so much that it has made a habit of playing out of state teams in recent years. Don Bosco opens its regular season on Sept. 8 against Gilman High from Baltimore, Md., then will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to take on St. Thomas Aquinas – also one of the top-ranked teams in the nation.
It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals stack up against Don Bosco on Tuesday. It should no doubt help prepare Greenwich for its regular season opener against Ridgefield.
I admire that Greenwich team, they don’t duck anyone. They are looking to challenge their kids at the highest level. It will pay dividends down the road, regardless of the outcome!
It won’t pay dividends if some of their starters get injured
Was wondering why Jabrill Peppers wasn’t mentioned in this article and just read he transferred to Paramus Catholic. He is very good. What was the reason for the transfer?
SPB, Yuri Wright, who got kicked outta Bosco after last season, also went D1, to Colorado
Quick programming note: I will not be writing all the football posts this season. This one is written by David Fierro of Greenwich Time.
Check the byline atop an abottom of the page.
Sean, hope you can make the scrimmage and video some of the action. Will be very interested to get your views. Thanks.
@Wow – NJ-press said Peppers wanted to play with his friends closer to home and Bosco was not a great fit. Here is the quote … “Everyone knows I’m good at football,” Peppers said. “That’s been acknowledged. I wanted to be treated like a regular person. It seems like at the end of the day I’m still treated like a child in high school. (At Paramus Catholic) everyone just fits in there and it’s more diverse. It was basically a no-brainer for me.” The blogs said he did not like the all-male boarding school environment at Bosco. He is likely the top recruit in the 2014 class regardless of where he plays HS ball … already holds offers from the best college programs according to Rivals.
@JB – unfortunately, my presence is required in the home office today.
We will be getting a report from Dave Fierro. Hopefully with some vid.
Deadlines are deadlines … but thanks for arranging Dave’s coverage.
I went to the GHS Scrimmage today for 3 qtrs on way home from business trip instead of sitting in traffic for 2 hours. Greenwich is good but Bosco is a machine. GHS’s skill kids are pretty good but the power of DB is nothing like a CT high school team. They play and hit like college kids.
I’m telling u believe this statement. An allstar team from Xavier, Ansonia, GHS and Staples would not beat Bosco. They are that good.
What was the score of the Bosco game?any other scrimmage info out there on other teams?This pc has company limitations and I can’t get the ansonia ND info either.
Greenwich 7, Bosco 42
How come when Jabrill Pepper transferred from Don Bosco to Paramus Catholic he didn’t have to sit out either 30 days or half the season as per county rules?