ST. JOHN BOSCO 13 - EAGLES 0
BELLFLOWER, CA., October 11, 2024 – Fans at St. John Bosco were stunned as their highly ranked national powerhouse team was knotted in a 0-0 tie with visiting Santa Margarita Catholic (SMC) with six minutes remaining in regulation time. The Eagles barged into Bellflower and proved to be rude guests as they seemingly spoiled the school’s celebration of Homecoming and Senior Night at Panish Family Stadium.
The SMC defense was on full display as the entire compliment attacked the Braves with fury and passion. The young bunch showed no sign of being intimidated on this night. Unfortunately, a special teams miscue late in the fourth quarter spun success SJB’s way as they blocked a punt and pounced on the ball in the end zone for a 7-0 lead. The Braves scored one more time and the final score ended at 13-0.
The intense defense filled up the score sheet in every category as it enjoyed its best overall game, certainly this season and in the recent past. The statistics do not give credit for bruises administered to opponents, but if they did, Luke Anderson and Logan Hirou would lead the pack. The offense handled its share of the burden with long, drawn-out drives that bleed the clock consistently as the quarters proceeded and goose eggs covered the scoreboard.
Some of the defensive numbers:
- Luke Anderson: 10 total tackles (1 for loss) -- led team
- Aleki “Leki” Holani: 8 total tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack, 2 hurries, 1 pass defended and 1 forced fumble
- Dash Fifita: 4 total tackles (1 for loss), 1 hurry and 1 interception
- Ivrick Carrigan: 1 sack and 1 forced fumble
- Logan Hirou: 5 total tackles (1 for loss), 1 pass defended 1 forced fumble
- Jayden Crowder: 1 blocked field goal
Additional Notes:
- This was the first time SMC has been shutout since the 2019 season when they fell 45-0 to Mater Dei at home and then succumbed on the road at Servite the very next week, 27-0.
- Despite the loss, the Eagles remain ranked No. 24 in the nation and No. 8 in California by CalPreps.com. This is based upon their computer algorithm that is power rating and strength of schedule.
- With that, SMC currently possess the fourth-toughest schedule rating in the nation behind only Mater Dei, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland) and this week’s opponent Orange Lutheran.
| St. John Bosco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SJB – Nash punt block recovered endzone (Wallace kick)
SJB – Malau'ulu 28 run (Kick blocked)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Ja. Smith 11-47, Robinson 11-19; SJB - Malau'ulu 6-65, Keyes 9-37
Passing: SM - J. Gazzaniga 9-21-1-86; SJB - Malau'ulu 5-10-0-49
Receiving: SM - Embree 3-64, Cooke 1-21; SJB - Odom 3-54, Williams 2-17
Compiled by Chuck Nan
Statistics by Shane Mielke
St. John Bosco football pulls out win over Santa Margarita with two late TDs
BELLFLOWER, CA., October 11, 2024 – St. John Bosco football needed everything it had to defeat Santa Margarita 13-0 at Panish Family Stadium, but it was defense and special teams that really came through for the Braves on Friday.
The game-winning touchdown came courtesy of a punt block by Hunter-Aidan Cox, which Brandon Nash recovered in the end zone.
St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro emphasized the importance of Cox’s play.
“It was a turning point in the game,” Negro said. “Especially late in the game like that, but you have to give credit to a guy, he is not a front-line starter but he understands what his role is. He understands his job and he performed it to the best of his capabilities.
“That’s the reason why we have a pretty good football team and a pretty good culture here.”
St. John Bosco (7-0, 2-0) struggled offensively. Both Matai Fuiava and Koa Malau’ulu saw action under center for Bosco. Fuiava completed 6 of 13 passes for 50 yards and one interception. Malau’ulu completed 5 of 11 passes for 46 yards. He added one rushing touchdown.
Along with special teams, the Bosco defense was the star of the night. Posesi Sulunga and Ethan Coach had sacks, Jacob Holmes had an interception and the defense kept the Santa Margarita offense on its half of the field most of the night.
John Gazzaniga completed 9 of 22 passes for 103 yards for Santa Margarita (3-4, 0-2). He threw one interception.
Jaion Smith led the Eagles ground game with 36 yards on 10 carries. Leki Holani led the Eagles’ defense. He recovered two fumbles and forced one to go with a sack. Griffin Brahm added a sack as well while Dash Fifita had one interception.
The first quarter saw both teams spinning their wheels offensively. Santa Margarita forced Bosco to punt on its first offensive possession. On the Eagles’ first possession, Bosco’s Jacob Holmes picked off Gazzaniga and returned the ball to the Eagles’ 28.
But after 25 yards worth of consecutive penalties and a 20-yard run by Maliq Allen, Holani recovered a Bosco fumble on a pass play to end a scoreless first quarter.
The second quarter played out similarly to the first. Malau’ulu entered the game at quarterback to start the quarter. He completed 2 of 4 passes for 42 yards on the drive to set up the Braves at the Santa Margarita 2. But on first-and-goal, Holani stripped the ball from Carson Clark on a direct snap play to get the ball back for the Eagles.
Bosco forced Santa Margarita to punt, but after Fuiava returned to the game, the Eagles batted his first pass attempt into mid-air before Dash Fifita reeled in an interception with 40 seconds left in a scoreless half. Santa Margarita couldn’t convert before halftime.
St. John Bosco took the game’s first lead thanks to clutch special teams. With 5:45 left in the game, Cox blocked a Gazzaniga punt which Nash recovered in the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Bosco added some insurance with 2:37 left. On third-and-4 Malau’ulu ran a keeper first to the outside and then the inside for a 28-yard touchdown run. That gave Bosco its final points and a 13-0 win.
By Anthony Ciardelli
Friday, October 11, 2024
The Orange County Register
