No shortage of talent, drive for St. John Bosco
Despite falling short against Mater Dei in the Trinity League championship game last spring, the St. John Bosco football team is still the defending CIF Southern Section and state champion.
With no playoffs during the abbreviated season in the spring, the Braves enter this fall as the defending champs (2019 season).
But that doesn’t mean the loss to Mater Dei didn’t fuel St. John Bosco’s players throughout the offseason.
“We had a short offseason, but we came together earlier than anybody,” defensive lineman Jairus Satele said. “The defensive line — me, Nathan Burrell, Malachi Finau and Matayo Uiagalelei — have been working since that weekend (when it lost to Mater Dei).
“It motivated us so much that we mention it every day, at every practice we have.”
Bosco has the talent to win its fourth CIF State championship and third national championship. The Braves have 18 returning starters (eight offense, 10 defense) and 39 players on the roster hold at least one scholarship offer.
That depth will help Bosco as it plays what MaxPreps’ rates as the the most difficult schedule in the country. The Braves will play top national teams from Florida, Illinois and Virginia as well as one of the top teams in Los Angeles (Alemany). After that gauntlet, they begin Trinity League play against Mater Dei (Oct. 1) and wrap the regular season at home against Servite (Oct. 29).
The two quarterbacks who shared the position during the spring are back and had eventful offseasons.
Senior Katin Houser was a finalist at the Elite 11 quarterback competition and committed to Michigan State. Junior Pierce Clarkson performed well at the Elite 11 SoCal Regional competition and visited seven schools over the course of nine days in June.
Seniors Jabari Bates and Rayshon Luke are the team’s top two running
“It’s a head coach’s mandate to the offensive coordinator, ‘You better figure this out. We got somebody that nobody else has.”
— St. John Bosco coach on Matayo Uiagalelei
backs, both with multiple offers from Power 5 conference schools.
Uiagalelei is a tight end who showed last season that he is a major matchup problem for opponents.
The 6-foot-4, 255 pound junior has offers from all the major football programs, including Clemson, where his brother DJ is the starting quarterback.
“It’s a head coach’s mandate to the offensive coordinator, ‘You better figure this out. We got somebody that nobody else has,’ ” Braves coach Jason Negro said of how the team will get the maximum out of Uiagalelei. “We can split him out and put him against defensive backs like we did in the Mater Dei game and put us in some good situations. If you’re going to double-team him, I think we are talented enough at the other three spots to do some things that can hurt people.”
Tackle Earnest Greene (6-5, 330 pounds) leads the offensive line.
He has offers from Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and USC, plus many others. Tyson Molio’o and Maicah Talavou also return up front.
The strength of Bosco’s team is the versatility it has in many of its top defensive players. Jalen Woods (UCLA) and Sione Hala (Boston College) can play in the secondary or move up and play linebacker, depending on which personnel group the opposition runs.
“I think the success you have on defense is determinant on how versatile you can be,” Negro said. “If your kids are able to be versatile, play different positions and adapt to different scenarios, you’re going to be successful.”