St. Joseph Crowns a Championship Season, Hands No. 1 Don Bosco its First Loss at MetLife

On a crisp Black Friday night under the bright lights of MetLife Stadium, St. Joseph Regional delivered one of the most complete performances in its storied history — a performance that toppled undefeated Don Bosco Prep, reclaimed the Non-Public A crown, and cemented the legacy of a senior class that refused to let their final chapter be written by anyone else. What unfolded felt less like an upset and more like a culmination. A season defined by resilience, narrow heartbreaks, and steady growth found its perfect crescendo as the Green Knights edged the nation-ranked Ironmen, 24–21, capturing their first state title since 2018.

Don Bosco opened the game with confidence expected of an unbeaten No. 1 team, striking first on a deep pass to Isaiah Alvarez. But St. Joe’s did not back down. Junior quarterback Lamar Best was battling through pain severe enough to sideline most players but answered immediately, drifting left and dropping a perfect pass to Stalin Knowlden for a 38-yard touchdown. Bosco found another big play to retake the lead, yet St. Joe’s matched it with a composed 19-yard field goal from Kyle Salinas that kept the game within reach heading into halftime at 14–10.

Everything changed in the third quarter. The momentum shifted sharply as St. Joe’s leaned into its identity — balance, discipline, and the explosive presence of senior captain Nathan Bailey. With a sliver of daylight, Bailey burst free for a 35-yard touchdown run that flipped the lead and ignited the Green Knights sideline. Minutes later, Best read the defense perfectly on a keeper and slipped into the end zone from 10 yards out, extending the advantage to 24–14 and sending a powerful message: St. Joe’s came to finish.

Don Bosco, refusing to fold, answered with a fourth-quarter touchdown to pull within three. But when the Ironmen pressed for the final blow, St. Joe’s responded with championship-caliber defense. Tahj Gray racked up 13 tackles, AJ Revella and Kenyon McClain filled every gap, and Ryan Barry added a key sack as the front seven tightened, repelled Bosco’s last surge, and bled away the remaining time until the MetLife crowd was left watching green and gold erupt in celebration.

The title felt like the culmination of a season built for this moment. The Green Knights opened 4–0, endured back-to-back one-score losses, then recalibrated and sharpened themselves through adversity. A 43–42 thriller over Bergen Catholic, a convincing win over DePaul, a 35–0 playoff shutout against Delbarton, and a gritty semifinal redemption at St. Peter’s all paved the road to the championship. Every experience — good or bad — forged a team prepared for the biggest stage.

No one embodied that journey more than senior star Nate Bailey, who put the significance of the moment into words afterward.

“It feels amazing — just proud to wear the jersey with all the history behind it. I know the guys coming up will keep it going. We’re a special group, and we went through a lot this year, so I knew it would pay off on the back end.”

He reflected on what shaped the team long before MetLife ever came into view. “Games like this are won in June and July. Coach Augie built a standard. We bought in every day. That’s exactly what this is about.”

And in a final message to the program that shaped him: “Montvale holds a special place in my heart forever. Everyone — top to bottom — worked for this. I’m happy it paid off.”

For head coach Augie Hoffmann, his return to Montvale after time in the college ranks wasn’t just a homecoming — it was a mission to restore the standard. On Friday night, under the glow of championship lights, that mission became reality. St. Joe’s finished 10–2, knocked off the top-ranked team in New Jersey, and walked off the MetLife turf as champions — not because the season was perfect, but because they became the toughest version of themselves when it mattered most.

And in Montvale, that’s exactly how legacies are built.