November 19, 2010
St. Peter's Prep at Don Bosco
Savon Huggins and the Marauders looks to snap a five-game slide vs Don Bosco.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
Non-Public, Group IV
St. Peter’s Prep (9-1) at Don Bosco Prep (9-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
For each of the past four seasons the sight of Don Bosco Prep, has meant one thing for St. Peter’s Prep – the end of the line.
While the Marauders have dominated most of the competition in New Jersey in the past half-decade, the Bergen County rivals have defeated St. Peter’s five times in a row, outscoring them 198-51. Each of the past four seasons The Marauders have seen their season end at the hands of the Ironmen.
Three of those five losses have come at the Meadowlands for a state title, but this time they will meet in the semifinals, forcing St. Peter’s to face Don Bosco on its home turf in Ramsey.
The Marauders enter tonight’s contest on a roll, winners of eight-straight, but will have to raise their game to a new level if they want to hand the Ironmen their first loss to a New Jersey team since St. Peter’s Prep upset them in the 2005 Non-Public, Group IV final.
Players to Watch for Don Bosco Prep
RB Paul Canevari
An unknown before the season, Canevari has emerged as one of the state’s most physical runners. The 6’0”, 220-pound senior has scored 27 touchdowns this season, 11 of them coming in the past two weeks. Canevari may be a power back, but has speed as well, as evident by his 98-yard touchdown run in a season-opening win over Gilman of Baltimore.
QB Gary Nova
A lot was expected of Nova as one of the few returning starters from Don Bosco’s 2009 National Championship team. The Pittsburgh-bound signal caller has proven to be more than up to the task. Nova is a classic drop-back quarterback who has tossed for 18 touchdowns this season. Nova teams up with receiver Leonte Carroo to form a lethal deep-passing combination.
Players to Watch for St. Peter’s Prep
RB Savon Huggins
Huggins entered the season as the state’s top recruit and has done little to dispute that notion, rushing for 1,694 yards and scoring 35 touchdowns (34 rushing). He rushed for a season-high 275 yards in last week’s win over Notre Dame. Don Bosco Prep has been the one kryptonite for Huggins as he was limited to just 98 yards and less than three yards per carry in two losses to the Ironmen last year.
QB Brandon Napoleon
With defenses keying up on Huggins, there has been plenty of pressure on Napoleon to deliver in his first year as the starting quarterback. After a rough start, the junior has been on point lately, completing 15-of-19 passes for 125 yards in the playoff opener against Notre Dame. A dual-threat QB, Napoleon had a 59-yard touchdown run against Friendship Academy two weeks ago.