JERSEY CITY — St. Peter’s Prep is failing in its attempt to upset the nation’s No. 2-ranked team in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 state championship game.
The Marauders trail Don Bosco Prep, 23-7, at halftime of the state title game at Giants Stadium in a game being played in a steady rain.
The Marauders received the opening kickoff, but on the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Raphael Ortiz threw an interception to Ryan Cobb at the 17-yard line of St. Peter’s. Five plays later, Tony Jones went in fron the 1-yard line for the first of his three first half touchdowns, giving the favored Ironmen a 7-0 lead with 9:41 left in the first quarter.
The Ironmen, who entered the game with a 22-game winning streak and not having lost a game in New Jersey in four years, then pushed the lead to 13-0 on another Jones 1-yard run with 4:49 left in the opening period.
The Marauders then came right back. Ortiz connected with Brendan Dolaghan for a 51-yard reception, and then hit Sheldon Royster on a 20-yard touchdown pass to slice the lead to 13-7.
But Don Bosco controlled the action from that point on. Aidan Murray made a 29-yard field goal with 6:55 left before halftime to push the lead to 16-7 and then Jones put the dagger in the Marauders’ upset chances with his third touchdown, this one of five yards, with just 19 seconds left before intermission, giving the Ironmen the 23-7 halftime advantage.
By the time the second half kickoff was about to take place, a steady snow flurry began to fall.
We will have a final score update later today. — Jim Hague