UCF football commit Matt Occhipinti anchors Don Bosco's state-best defense
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Matt Occhipinti was destined for big moments in big games.
After all, the Don Bosco middle linebacker grew up on the sidelines as the son of a football coach. The x’s and o’s and assignments are encoded in his DNA. He’s the centerpiece of the Ironmen’s stout defense, which has led them within a game of returning to another Non-Public A state final.
Standing in the way: four-time defending champion and arch rival Bergen Catholic. The Crusaders aren’t ready to concede, but Occhipinti and the Ironmen wouldn’t have it any other way.
“This game is what it’s all about. All these years of hard work leads up to this point. It’s what we’ve all worked for,” Occhipinti said. “We respect them [Bergen Catholic] and what they’ve accomplished over the years. We’re looking to reach out goals and finish what we started.”
Don Bosco (10-0) is the No. 1 ranked team in the New Jersey Super 25 and will host No. 3 Bergen Catholic (8-2) in the state semifinal on Nov. 21.
Earlier this season, the top-seeded Ironmen hung on to defeat the Crusaders, 14-9, in Ramsey. The defense only allowed Bergen Catholic’s offense to run two plays of more than 20 yards, handing the Crusaders their first in-state loss in three years..
“The best part of our defense is that you’re not going to be necessarily blown away by any individual statistics,” Don Bosco coach Dan Sabella said. “That’s a product of being sound and solid across the board. Everyone is contributing, hitting their gaps and making the plays when the opportunities come their way.”
How it started
Occhipinti, a three-year starter, will play in his fifth game of the rivalry since breaking into the starting lineup his sophomore year.
The Saddle Brook resident leads a defense that has surrendered just 89 points through 10 games this season. That’s the lowest points total allowed by the Ironmen at this point of a campaign since the 2011 crew gave up 78 en route to a perfect 11-0 run, a sixth straight state title and a mythical national championship.
“Matt has gotten better and better every year when you look at the trajectory of his career. His sophomore year was a great learning year for him. He knew what it was going to take to be a player in this league,” Sabella said. “He had a nice breakout year as a junior when we moved him inside, where he found a home. This year he’s taken another step, not just as a player, but a leader.”
Occhipinti grew up in a sports-centric family. A Saddle Brook resident, he once roamed the sidelines as a young boy following behind his father, Matt, a longtime defensive coordinator at Ramapo working alongside Drew Gibbs from 2003-21. The elder Occhipinti is a special education and history teacher at Ramapo but now coaches defensive backs at Don Bosco.
“It’s been a blessing growing up around the game, especially with my dad by my side,” the younger Occhipinti said. “I witnessed some great games and football in Franklin Lakes over the years. It left an impression and I could say I learned a lot about the game, especially winning.”
Occhipinti planned to attend Ramapo, but that changed after Gibbs’ unexpected death at the end of the 2021 season, and a subsequent coaching change in Franklin Lakes.
“We’ve built some great relationships at Don Bosco over the last four years. The program has grown and there’s been a lot of improvement,” said Occhipinti, who has 43 tackles, six for a loss and two sacks on the season. “The defense is made up of a group of guys who stay hungry. We have some younger guys who have progressed. We’re getting production and we’re seeing the results.”
Where it’s going
A Central Florida pledge, Occhipinti expects to officially sign with the Knights on Early Signing Day on Dec. 3.
Occhipinti chose UCF over other suitors − West Virginia, Cincinnati and UConn − to name a few. He clicked with veteran linebackers coach Mark D’Onofrio, a one-time high school and college All-American linebacker at North Bergen and Penn State in the mid-1980s.
“Coach [D’Onofrio] has developed great linebackers over the years. He’s talented and a player’s coach,” said Occhipinti, who plans on enrolling and starting classes at UCF in January. “It’s an amazing coaching staff and the location is awesome. I’m looking forward to it.”
With the season in the homestretch, the Ironmen are locked in with their sights set on their first state title since 2015.
“We’re really focusing on ourselves. Every game in this rivalry is a story within itself. We’re focusing on this one,” Sabella said. “You never know when its that play that’s going to make the difference in the game. It’s that unbelievable attention to detail of just not wanting to take anything for granted. Every snap is important and our guys know that. Our guys are going to play with that relentless effort.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: UCF football commit Matt Occhipinti leads Don Bosco defense
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