MELISSA, Texas — For nearly two quarters, Melissa had Don Bosco Prep on the ropes. By halftime, the Cardinals held a 10-0 lead, the New Jersey powerhouse looked sluggish, and the upset alarms were warming up.
But the Ironmen flipped the script in the second half. A quarterback change, a resurgent ground game, and a defense that clamped down in crunch time fueled a 14-10 comeback win in the Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer Classic on Friday night at Coach Kenny Deel Stadium.
Bosco’s turning point
Head coach Dan Sabella rolled the dice at halftime, pulling starter Dylan Wrona and inserting sophomore Carson Schoen. The move changed everything. Schoen wasted little time, steering a nine-play drive and bulldozing into the end zone from a yard out to cut the deficit to 10-7 midway through the third quarter.
By the fourth, he delivered the knockout. With just over five minutes left, Schoen dropped back, spotted Jeremiah Alvarez streaking down the right sideline, and hit him in stride for a 62-yard touchdown strike. The Ironmen had their first lead — and they never gave it back.
Schoen finished 5-of-6 for 114 yards, a score through the air, and another on the ground in just two quarters of action.
Defense slams the door
If Schoen sparked the rally, Bosco’s defense made sure it held. The Ironmen forced three interceptions, six tackles for loss, and two sacks while stonewalling Melissa’s high-powered attack in the second half.
Senior linebacker Jack Hinspeter racked up 13 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. Mikahi Allen added eight tackles, a pick, and even blocked a punt. And when the Cardinals tried to mount late drives, it was Jack DeMenna who slammed the door shut with interceptions on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter.
Melissa strikes first, then stalls
Melissa quarterback Brett Holloway gave the home fans plenty to cheer about early, busting loose for a 62-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finishing with 123 rushing yards. He also threw for 100 yards but was undone by two costly turnovers down the stretch.
The Cardinals carried a 10-0 lead into halftime after a Mateo Gentile field goal, but the momentum never returned after the break. Bosco’s defense held them to just 57 yards of offense in the second half and four first downs.
Numbers that tell the story
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Bosco outgained Melissa 208-57 in the second half.
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Ca’Si Thomas paced the Ironmen ground attack with 86 yards on 14 carries.
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Alvarez finished with 74 yards and the game-winning TD on just two catches.
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Holloway accounted for 223 of Melissa’s 223 total yards.
Final word
Don Bosco (1-0) flew nearly 1,500 miles to open its season and walked away with a gritty win against a Texas opponent ranked No. 19 in Class 5A Division II. Melissa (0-1) showed it could punch, but Bosco’s second-half adjustments proved decisive.
