Bosco seeks outright Trinity title
The St. John Bosco football team has one more regular season game to achieve its first championship goal before the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs begin next week.
The Braves (8-1, 4-0) have already clinched a share of the Trinity League title but would win their first outright title since 2018 if they beat Orange Lutheran (5-4, 2-2) at Orange Coast College tonight.
According to CalPreps, St. John Bosco, which is No. 1 in the website's CIF-SS rankings, is projected to beat No. 5-ranked Orange Lutheran 42-14. The Braves have been given a 96% chance to win by CalPreps.
Last season, the Braves beat Orange Lutheran twice, 48-7 in Trinity League play and 49-14 in the Division 1 quarterfinals, in a threeweek span on their way to the CIF-SS Division 1 title, CIF State Open Division title and mythical high school football national championship.
Senior quarterback Caleb Sanchez is coming off an effective performance in Bosco's 42-20 win at JSerra on Oct. 20. Sanchez completed 19 of 27 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.
The Braves' receiving corp was led by senior Owen Tomich, who hauled in a season-high five receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. Senior running backs Cameron Jones (UCLA commit) and Chauncey Sylvester Jr. each added a rushing touchdown. Sophomore defensive lineman Dutch Horisk led the defense with a team-high eight tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
The Braves finished the game with 487 yards of total offense. Another all-around performance like that, combined with the team's defense which only gave up 143 yards of total offense (128 passing and 15 rushing), would likely bode well against the Lancers.
Meanwhile, Orange Lutheran is coming off a 5513 loss against Mater Dei on Oct. 19 in which the Monarchs rebounded from their 28-0 loss to Bosco on Oct. 13. The Lancers' offense has been led by a trio of juniors: quarterback TJ Lateef, running back Steve Chavez and receiver Tyler Hennessy.
St. John Bosco will learn its CIF-SS playoff fate on Sunday when brackets are released at 10 a.m.
LOS ALAMITOS (7-2, 4-0)
VS. EDISON (6-3, 4-0)
Where, when: Veterans Stadium, 7 p.m.
Analysis: This game will decide the Sunset League championship for the fourth consecutive season. Los Alamitos had 552 yards of offense and 335 yards rushing in its 62-13win over Huntington Beach last week. Alonzo Esparza threw two touchdown passes to Hayden Eligon and ran for two scores. Anthony League ran for two touchdowns and Lenny Ibarra added one. Jackson Raguse had a fumble return for a touchdown to lead the defense. Edison is led by junior running back Julius Gillick on offense along with receiver Mason York and freshman quarterback Sam Thomson. St. John Bosco transfer Hoi Hansen leads the Sunset League in tackles with 124. Los Alamitos has won the last three meetings between the two teams, but two of those games were decided by one score.
MAYFAIR (6-3, 2-2)
VS. NORWALK (3-6, 0-4)
Where, when: Bellflower High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Mayfair would clinch the third automatic playoff spot from the Gateway League with a win over Norwalk. The Monsoons struggled in a blowout loss to Downey last week with less than 200yards of total offense and four turnovers. Jeremiah Calvin threw a touchdown pass to Aidan Sullivan in the loss and Devon Daniel led the defense with 9tackles. Norwalk is winless in league play but only lost by two points to Dominguez last week. Ezra Mueller had two touchdown runs and Rylee Sosa and Caleb Mitchell each added one. Mitchell also had two interceptions on defense for Norwalk. Norwalk has not beaten Mayfair since 2014.
LAKEWOOD (4-5, 3-2)
VS. COMPTON (3-6, 1-4)
Where, when: Compton College, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Lakewood would qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season with a win over Compton. Sophomore Kade Casillas completed 17 of 23 passes for 234 yards with four touchdowns in Lakewood's 41-27 win over Wilson last week. Cecil Xavier Smith led the team with 80 yards receiving with a touchdown and Caleb Tafua had two touchdown receptions. Rovana Tufugafale had 10tackles with a sack and David Voorhies had an interception. Compton is coming off two blowout losses to Millikan and Poly. Freshman Nate Willard had a rushing touchdown against Poly. Lakewood beat Compton 50-20last season but lost the previous three meetings between the two schools.
LA SALLE (4-5, 1-2) VS.
ST. PIUS X-ST. MATTHIAS (3-5, 2-1)
Where, when: St. Pius X-St. Matthias High, 7 p.m.
Analysis: St. Pius X-St. Matthias sits in second place in the Del Rey League standings but a loss to La Salle could force a three-way tie for second place between the two schools and Harvard-Westlake. The Warriors suffered an overtime loss to league champion St. Anthony and have won back-to-back games since. Brady Shaffer threw three touchdown passes last week in a win over St. Genevieve. Christian Harris had a long touchdown run. La Salle of Pasadena lost to St. Anthony 53-14last week. Quarterback Zachary Lifton leads the league in passing with 1,811 yards with 16 touchdowns and David Vanden Bosch has 910 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns. St. Pius X beat La Salle last season 61-6in the first meeting between the two schools.