St. John Bosco - Game Notes
With a 6-0 record Santa Margarita is seeking to begin their season 7-0 for only the third time. It was done in 1990 and 1997.
This is the seventh game between Santa Margarita and the St. John Bosco Braves and their third meeting at Saddleback College. The Eagles are 5-1 all time vs. the Braves and have scored exactly 35 points in their three previous trips to St. John Bosco. Last year, SJB Quarterback Joe Suaza scored three touchdowns to lead the Braves to a 28-23 win over the Eagles. In 2001, Ashton White put on one of the greatest individual performances in Eagle history as he rushed for 283 yards, scored four touchdowns and registered 12 tackles in leading the Eagles to a 35-17 win. (A recap of this game is included herein). In 2000, Tyler Thompson rushed for 203 yards and Ashton White added 137 as the Eagles began Serra League play with a solid 49-28 victory. In 1999, Tyler Thompson rushed for 130 yards and tied a school record with four touchdowns as the Eagles rolled to a 35-17 win at St. John Bosco. In 1993, the Eagles won a wild 35-32 shootout largely on the strength of 11 receptions by Brad Finneran, while in 1992, QB Sean O’Brien led the Eagles to a convincing 42-6 win.
The Braves are 5-1 on the season but are coming off a 24-17 loss to Mater Dei - their first league loss since the 2001 season. Last year they got off to a relatively slow start (3-2) before winning six straight games and capturing their first ever Serra League title. They advanced to the CIF quarterfinals before losing 38-8 to Loyola and finishing 9-3. The Braves are led by sixth-year coach Kiki Mendoza who is 30-30 (.500) overall.
The Eagles are ranked 4th in Orange County per the Orange County Register, 4th in CIF-SS Division I and 14th in Southern California per the LA Times. They have been ranked in the Orange County Top 10 for 86 of the last 96 weekly polls, and in the CIF Division I Top 10 for 41 of the 47 weekly polls since joining Division I in 1999.
Eagle - Brave History (SM Leads 5-1)
1992 SM 42, SJB 6 @ Saddleback College
1993 SM 35, SJB 32 @ St. John Bosco H.S.
1999 SM 35, SJB 17 @ St. John Bosco H.S.
2000 SM 49, SJB 28 @ Saddleback College
2001 SM 35, SJB 17 @ St. John Bosco H.S.
2002 SJB 28, SM 23 @ Saddleback College
Situational Record – St. John Bosco Game
Varsity Game No. and Record: 175 128-44-3 (.740)
Road Game No. and Record: 85 58-26 (.690)
Record at St. John Bosco High School: 3-0 (1.000)
Week 7 Record: 9-4-1 (.679)
Record vs. St. John Bosco: 5-1 (2003 is 7th Mtg)
Record vs. Los Angeles County Schools: 28-8 (.778)
Record vs. Serra League Schools: 16-7-1 (.688)
Record on Friday: 107-36-3 (.743)
Record as a Division I team: 34-15-2 (.686)
Record vs. Division I teams: 39-18-1 (.681)
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
