Devir Delivers: Don Bosco Stays No. 1 After OT Thriller vs. St. Joe’s Regional

photo by: Anthony Ferrara & coverage by: Nery Rodriguez

In one of the most electric games of the year, No. 1 Don Bosco Prep walked into Montvale and walked out still undefeated — but not without a fight. A clash between two top-five heavyweights came down to one swing of the leg, and senior kicker John Devir made sure the Ironmen didn’t leave empty-handed, drilling a 24-yard field goal in overtime to lift Bosco past No. 4 St. Joseph Regional, 17–14.

From the opening kick, both teams matched intensity with execution. Kyshawn Bryant set the tone for St. Joe’s early with a five-yard touchdown run, capping a steady first-quarter drive that showcased the Green Knights’ ground control. Bosco answered back in the second as Carson Schoen found Isaiah Alvarez on an eight-yard strike to tie it. St. Joe’s regained momentum when Mason Geis hit Brady Shust on a 32-yard touchdown, but moments later, Alvarez silenced the home crowd with a 91-yard kickoff return — a game-changer that sent both teams into halftime knotted at 14.

The second half was a defensive slugfest. Jeremiah Alvarez hauled in a few clutch catches to keep Bosco drives alive, while Geis connected with Nathan Bailey and Bryant to move the chains for St. Joe’s. Both defenses, however, tightened the screws. Bosco’s Amori McNeil came up with a crucial interception, and Devir — already making an impact on both sides of the ball — stayed locked in as the game drifted toward overtime tied 14-14.

When the extra period came, it was Devir’s moment. After the Ironmen offense stalled inside the ten, the senior lined up for a 24-yarder with the top ranking on the line. The stadium fell silent. The snap, the hold, the kick — clean through the uprights. Game over. Bosco remains perfect.

After the game, Devir reflected on what went through his mind before the kick:

“My teammates told me I was going to get a chance to end the game and there it was,” he said. “I tried to shut out the noise, take a deep breath — we do this in practice a million times. It was just a chip shot, nothing more than that. The game was on the line and I made it. I’m built for this. God gave me a path, and with the game in my hands, it went through.”

The win keeps Don Bosco Prep at 6-0 and firmly in control of the top spot in the United Red Division, while St. Joe’s (4-2) showed they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in New Jersey. As the playoff picture tightens, this matchup might not be the last time these two powerhouses meet — and if the rematch comes, everyone will be watching.