Xfinity Challenge: St. John's Bosco wins thriller; Don Bosco Prep rolls

SALT LAKE CITY - You can bet St. John Bosco is thanking its lucky stars for its kicker.

An extra point was the only difference in the Braves' 34-33 win against Utah-based power Jordan (Sandy, Utah) on Saturday at the Xfinity Challenge in Rio Tinto Stadium.

The marquee game was the matinee, and St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) needed a last-minute pass to escape with a win, its first official victory of the year after having to forfeit its first four. The Braves are now officially 1-4.

Sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen led them there, passing for 277 yards and four scores, the last of which was a strike to Nick Lehman with only 45 seconds left. The burly tight end rumbled his way through tackles for a 28-yard score, and a kick by Reid Budrovich won the game for the California team.

“We had a lot of mistakes today — a lot of penalties really hurt us in some bad spots,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said. “But our kids really fought. You play these kinds of games to get ready for league play, and I think we answered a lot of questions.”

There's certainly no questions about Bosco's offense, which rolled up 507 yards. Although the Beetdiggers got to Rosen and the Braves running backs, notching three sacks and two fumble recoveries, they couldn't stop their superior speed and Rosen's scrambling ability.

It was all the better stage for Rosen to shine, going against the Maxpreps 2011 national Freshman of the Year Austin Kafentzis. The dual-threat signal-caller had two touchdowns on the ground and two through the air, but his three interceptions proved costly.

Chandler Hawkins had two of the picks, and Brett Baldwin nabbed the final one, clinching the win for St. John Bosco.

It was an otherwise close game. Tied at 14 at halftime, neither team was ever more than seven points ahead.

Other St. John Bosco standouts included running back Darren Walker, who piled up 136 yards, and Jaleel Wadood was a two-way threat, getting a rushing score, but also making a lot of defensive plays.

The Jordan interior linemen had a strong day, paving the way for 217 rushing yards, but center BJ Cavender was hurt, as was starting tailback Clay Moss, who had 77 yards and a score.

The Braves enjoyed their visit to Utah, even if they had underestimated their opponent who dropped to 5-1-1.

“This win says Bosco can compete with anybody.” Hawkins said. “Yeah, I thought we were going to win by more, that our margin would be bigger. But 34-33 — can't argue with that.”

Box score

More postgame comments

St. John Bosco H.S. Head Coach Jason Negro
Overall thoughts on the game…
"We had a lot of mistakes – a ton of penalties. We had some turnovers, which they did as well. The penalties really hurt us in some bad spots. The altitude affected us a lot more than I thought it was going to. Overall, our kids fought and you have these types of games so you can get better for the league and I think we answered some questions today."

On Jordan's performance…
"As advertised, they are as good as good anybody we've ever seen up front. They are good as anybody in our league up front. That's not a surprise, because everyone knew it. I'm just proud of how we kept battling and battling. Ya know, they had a hard time stopping us too."

On interceptions changing the game…
"It was big. [Brett Baldwin] had to step up. We stepped up and did some good things. Secondary play was really good. They got it behind us a couple of times and we got fortunate with some bad throws. Overall, I'm really happy for our performance."

On whether making the trip to Rio Tinto Stadium was worth it…
"The trip is worth it now. You've got to give these guys a ton credit. They made a commitment to up this game and get some better competition in there and luckily we were able to come in here."

St. John Bosco OL Nico Falah
Overall thoughts on the game…
"Oh man, that was a very emotional game. One of the hardest games we've played and we came out victorious. There's no better feeling in the world."

On performance of the team …
"It's not how you start, it's how you finish it and we finished on top."

On playing in Rio Tinto Stadium's XFINITY High School Football Challenge…
"It's great. Honestly, we didn't want to come all this way for nothing. We wanted to come back with some jewelry so that's what we did and we're going back with a trophy."

Jordan Head Coach Eric Kjar
On the back and forth nature of the game…
"The game definitely felt like whoever had the ball last was going to win the game. Austin actually came up to me and said, with about ten minutes left in the game, that he was thinking the same thing. We were hoping that we could get another shot at it and we did."

Jordan QB Austin Kafentzis
Overall thoughts on the game…
"We just needed to execute towards the end and I didn't execute. I was worrying too much about other people and that was my fault. I was just too worried about other things."

On settling into an offensive rhythm in a back and forth game…
"We had a lot of injuries in the game; our center went out and we had a lot of other things go wrong but we tried our best to get into a rhythm during the game and I thought we did."

One play that shifted the momentum for Bosco…
"That missed field goal was big. I feel that that was my bad. I could have scored and gotten that touchdown. You can always do a little more. That was my mistake."

On this being the most fun game he had played in a while…
"Yeah it was. There were a lot of up and down moments. There was a lot of momentum going their way and then it shifted in our favor and we just couldn't hold on to it at the end. I threw that pick and I gave it all to them."

On the magnitude of this game…
"It's a once in a lifetime chance to play in a facility like this and to play against a team like this. Preparing for it, we had an extra day of practice but we all could have done a little bit more. During the bus ride home we'll have time to think about all the things we did wrong but we executed on a lot of things today. At the end, the passing game didn't really click and I just fell apart."

On preparing for St. John Bosco…
"We didn't change the way we prepared for this game. We prepare the same for every game. We want to play our game; we don't want to change for every opponent. We just wanted to go out there and give it 100 percent on our side of the ball and not worry about what they need to do."

Don Bosco Prep 52, Alta 24

One of the nation's top football programs in the last decade sent out a very powerful reminder that they still belong in that elite group on Saturday night.

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) dominated Alta (Sandy, Utah) from the start in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.

The Ironmen pounded the Hawks early, intercepting them three times and riding big plays out to a 31-0 halftime lead.

The biggest playmaker was Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks, who showcased his speed with long bursting runs. He had touchdowns of 56 and 48 yards, finishing with 155 yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Frank Nutile fared well also, throwing for 178 yards and two scores, both to Isaiah Hill.

Defensively, Don Bosco (3-1) was all over Alta's passing game as Alquandin Muhammad and Brandon Washington harrassed quarterback Chipper Lucero. Daivon Ellison nabbed a pick-six for Don Bosco's first score.

Lucero did end up with 309 yards and three touchdowns, but just about all of it came after the Ironmen had established an insurmountable lead. Mack Richards stood out for the Hawks (5-2) with two touchdown catches and a kickoff return for a score as the clock ran out.

View Quixcore report.

Postgame comments
Don Bosco Prep Head Coach Greg Toal
Overall thoughts on the game…
"This was our best offensive performance. I think offensively, we did really good tonight."

Dealing with being away from home and altitude…
"I think our kids were able to block that out of their minds and focus on football. I'm proud of them. They played hard today. It was a good football team out there and I'm glad to see the way our kids responded."

Favorite part of the trip…
"The best part of the trip was I guess holding that cup up there at the end."

On time spent in Utah…
"We had a great time. It was a great place. It's a nice place to be and live in the United States. As far as scenic and as far as mountains and stuff, it's absolutely gorgeous. It's a sight to see."

Don Bosco Prep DE Alquadin Muhammad
Overall thoughts on the game…
"I just did what we practiced all week...I used my speed to beat the guy. Ya know, he's big and strong and he's a little slow on his feet so I used my speed to beat him to get to the quarterback and create that pressure, which made him throw those interceptions today."

On letting up and getting scored on in the second half…
"Not at all, it was just mistakes that we made that we'll correct in practice this upcoming week."

On significance of win…
"It says you know, we play together and we work hard. Like I said before, it all comes down to who wants it more and who loves each other more. We love each other and we love our coaches and stuff, so we stick together out here on this field. We play as hard as we can…Everything that happened tonight, we expected it."

Don Bosco Prep DL/OG Razohnn Gross
Overall thoughts on the game…
"It was a good feeling. I mean, we knew what we wanted to do and we knew it would be a tough one. With me going both ways, I had to suck it up. I am so grateful for my teammates. I just love everyone. If we keep going like this we'll be great. We won't be good, we'll be great.

On bonding as a team on this trip…
"We're just a great team right now. The reason why we won out there is because we love each other and its family. All the time in the film room and all the time at the practices, you definitely bond closer."

Don Bosco Prep LB Spencer Scannell
Overall thoughts on the game…
"It was a good game, they played hard and we played a little harder. We executed better and it was a really good game."

On his touchdown…
"I came out to the flat and I saw a little window so I stopped and caught the ball and it was a touchdown."

On playing at Rio Tinto Stadium…
"It was awesome. The mountains are all amazing. It was a really cool experience."

Don Bosco Prep DB/WR Isaiah Hill
Overall thoughts on the game…
"I think we played well all around, defense, offense and special teams - like we always do. I think our offense was really quick and that our defense is always going to be strong like it always was."

On playing Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium…
"This was a great experience. I've never seen anything like it. Utah is a beautiful place with mountains and scenery. This field is excellent for a high school game. Everything was good."

On winning the XFINITY High School Football Challenge…
"We had to bring it back to New Jersey. They thought that they could break us with the altitude and stuff but we worked so hard and we love each other so much that nothing can break us."

Alta coach Bob Stephens
On the quick start of Don Bosco…
"I expected them to come out quickly. You know, they have lost one game in what? Five years? They play all over the country and we had a challenge in front of us and we came out and kind of shot ourselves in the foot early. We knew they were going to be tough."

On what changed at halftime…
"At halftime that was my big focus; come out and win the second half. I told them that regardless of the win or loss, they could come out and quit or they could come out and fight to the end and we saw that they came out and fought. That just shows the character that I'm trying to build with these kids. You got to love them for it."

On not quitting after going down 31-0 at the half…
"Quitting is not in my vocabulary. I'll fight to the very end and I am so proud of our team for playing until the end. Especially when it seems hopeless and desperate, there is no such thing as quit."

On the overall play of Mack Richards…
"It was great. You know that the secondary of Don Bosco is great; they are the best we have ever faced. They did a good job and we were still able to do something, even in the first half. Mack is going to be a great one, no doubt about it."

On the size and speed of Don Bosco compared with other teams Alta had faced…
"Their size isn't all that big but their speed was very very good. We have faced a lot of good talent in the state already but their secondary was the best we have faced this year."

Alta WR Harrison Handley
On what changed from the first to the second half…
"We just got in there and realized that we had to fight and that we weren't going to quit. That's not Alta. We never quit. We really had to come out strong and show New Jersey what we could do and we just tried to do what we could."

On the statement Utah High School Football left with this game…
"We definitely still have to prove ourselves. I think we are up there but we still have some work to do. There is always room for improvement and we just have to get better and really prove ourselves more. This game will be a huge factor for our games to come but I learned that we are never going to quit and that we are always going to play hard."

Real Salt Lake Communications contributed to this report.