Coming off one of the most impressive seasons in California high school football history, St. John Bosco is ready for a repeat performance.
Photo by Heston Quan
The Los Angeles Times called it the best team in the history of the Southland. It finished as national champion in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.
Put simply, the 2013 St. John Bosco squad was special.
It's a lofty expectation to live up to, but the 2014 Braves squad will once again be among the best in the region, state and nation, and teams that look past them will do so at their own risk.
Josh Rosen, a highly-touted quarterback, powers the offense once again. The 6-foot-4 senior committed to UCLA in March and is the No. 1 pro-style quarterback
in the 247Composite.
As a junior, Rosen threw for 3,200 yards and 39 touchdowns against some of the nation's top teams. Defenses intercepted him only seven times in 277 attempts.
Sean McGrew, one of the nation's most productive sophomore running backs a year ago, will be a welcomed, familiar face in the backfield for Rosen. McGrew carried the ball 203 times for 2,076 yards and 21 touchdowns.
With Shay Fields and Jaleel Wadood, who enjoyed an All-American-caliber season last year, matriculating to college, St. John Bosco will need replacements for its two leading receivers who combined for 38 touchdown catches last year.
Jared Harrell, a 6-2 junior, will be tasked with a larger role in the offense. Sophomore
Berkeley Holman could also be a factor.
Despite losing USC signee Damien Mama, the offensive line returns two other Division I prospects in
Zachary Robertson and
Matthew Katnik.
The defense will be slightly greener, having graduated the likes of Chandler Leniu, Christian Holland, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, and Jaleel Wadood — the team's top four tackle leaders from 2013.
Linebacker
Nas Anesi and defensive back
D.J. Morgan are two of the team's leading returners on that side of the ball. Anesi made 48 tackles, while Morgan was in on 18.
Gavin Windes and
Eric Golston saw time last season on the defensive front, but dealing with the departure of Malik Dorton, now at USC, won't be easy.
The secondary is tasked with similar challenges, having to replace Naijiel Hale and Tyler Hawkins. Junior
Mykael Tolliver will be among the fresh faces looking to step in and make a name for themselves.
Regression is natural after a season like St. John Bosco enjoyed in 2013. However, don't bet on the Braves falling too far. Head coach Jason Negro was very impressed with how his team looked this spring.
Having arguably the most college-ready quarterback in the country can mask many deficiencies. It's an extremely tall order to get through the regular season unscathed, like it did last year. So, while St. John Bosco may drop a game or two against its loaded schedule, it has a great chance to play for another Pac-5 title.
Local quote
"The emergence of St. John Bosco as a Southern California and national power is not a flash in the pan. Jason Negro has built this program to last at his alma mater. The pipeline of great players who want to play for a big-time winner now drops kids in Bellflower - so success breeds success when you think of how a private school continues to get better. Rosen is beyond polished, and the whole country should know who Sean McGrew is by the end of the season."
- Leland Gordon, Editor, MaxPreps (@lelandmaxpreps)
Sean McGrew is an emerging speedster who should post big stats.
Photo by Heston Quan/IIIustration by Social Recluse Graphx
