St. John Bosco 41 - Eagles 16
MISSION VIEJO, CA., October 22, 2021 – Santa Margarita Catholic finished the most grueling three-game stretch of its regular schedule versus the “Top 3” of the Trinity League. Friday’s game was a tough battle with highly touted St. John Bosco. The Eagles had trouble early and couldn’t escape some miscues, and the Braves’ ability to capitalize on them, and fell, 41-16. SMCHS kept the game close, trailing only 21-3 at half, but two Bosco scoring drives in the third quarter put the game out of reach. Jaxon Potter did throw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter (to Ty Benefield and Blain Eiseman). Blake Wilson led the defense with 10 tackles while Donovan Comestro snagged his third interception of the season. Also, Hero Kanu registered his eighth quarterback sack of the year. The Eagles play their final Trinity League regular season game and home game this week against Orange Lutheran. Both schools will be looking to improve their records in preparation for the CIF-Southern Section Playoffs.
| St. John Bosco | 7 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 41 |
| Santa Margarita | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 16 |
SJB – Luke 24 run (Lee kick)
SM – Christensen 36 FG
SJB – Luke 25 run (Lee kick)
SJB – Luke 57 pass from Clarkson (Lee kick)
SJB – James 3 pass from Hauser (Lee kick)
SJB – Williams 76 pass from Clarkson (Lee kick)
SJB – Hauser 1 run (kick failed)
SM – Benefield 3 pass from Potter (Christensen kick)
SM – Eiseman 27 pass from Potter (Potter pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SJB - Luke 6-78, Hayes 8-53; SM - Foye 16-53, Rivera 10-29
Passing: SJB - Houser 7-12-0-88, Clarkson 9-11-1-197; SM - Potter 16-30-1-138
Receiving: SJB - Luke 3-103, James 7-63; SM - Eiseman 5-86, Gallegos 4-32
Summary by Chuck Nan
Statistics by Shane Mielke
St. John Bosco football dominates Santa Margarita as Rayshon Luke scores three TDs
The Braves win their third game in a row in the Trinity League
MISSION VIEJO – Rayshon “Speedy” Luke scored three touchdowns for St. John Bosco as it defeated Santa Margarita 41-16 in a Trinity League game Friday at Saddleback College.
Since losing to Mater Dei on Oct. 1, the Braves (8-1, 3-1) have had dominant road wins against JSerra, Orange Lutheran and the Eagles. They will be at home for their Trinity League finale against Servite next Friday, Oct. 29.
Luke rushed for 81 yards with two touchdowns and had 102 yards receiving on three catches with a touchdown.
Pierce Clarkson completed 9 of 11 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns for the Braves. Michigan State commit Katin Houser threw for 87 yards and a touchdown.
The Braves took advantage of mistakes by Santa Margarita (5-4, 1-3) in the first half. The Eagles botched a fake punt attempt and St. John Bosco took possession at the Eagles 33-yard line. Luke ran for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Braves a 7-0 lead.
Near the end of the first quarter, Santa Margarita kicker Romen Christensen made a 36-yard field goal to put the Eagles on the scoreboard.
Luke ran for another touchdown, this time from 25 yards out, on the opening drive of the second quarter to put the Braves ahead 14-3.
Santa Margarita had the ball with less than a minute remaining in the half. Braves safety Jaxon Harley intercepted a pass to give Bosco the ball with 30 seconds left. Clarkson escaped the pocket and threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Luke to give Bosco a 21-3 lead at halftime.
Bosco continued the positive momentum through the third quarter. On the opening drive of the second half, Houser rolled to his right and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chedon James to put Bosco ahead 28-3.
On the ensuing Bosco possession, Clarkson threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Zacharyus Williams to increase the lead to 35-3. It was the first career touchdown for Williams, a sophomore.
Houser ran for a touchdown early in the fourth to complete the scoring for St. John Bosco.
Jaxon Potter threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter for Santa Margarita, one to Ty Benefield and one to Bain Eiseman. Potter completed 16 of 30 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
Bosco’s defense was effective all night long in stopping the Eagles. Nathan Burrell and Jairus Satele had sacks for the Braves and Jalen Woods made multiple tackles on third down.
Five-star recruit Hero Kanu had a sack for Santa Margarita.
By Michael Huntley
Friday, October 22, 2021
The Orange County Register
