The
Los Angeles Times called it the best team in the Southland area of all-time.
The
final Xcellent 25 had it as the third-best team in the country.
The
Long Beach Press-Telegram hailed him as the area's top coach, one loaded with marquee names.
All told, Jason Negro had a pretty good year.
Jason Negro, St. John Bosco
Photo by David Hood
The
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) head coach led his squad to a 16-0 record and a CIF Open Division Bowl Game title that came at the expense of De La Salle, which has appeared in the Open Division Bowl Game in all but one year since its inception (the other year they were Division I).
In that game, an interception inside St. John Bosco's territory with two minutes remaining sealed the victory for Negro and his squad. The win for Negro snapped De La Salle's 40-game winning streak and etched St. John Bosco's place in the pantheon of all-time great California teams.
"To finish the last high school game in America like this, amazing," Negro said after the title-clinching win. "De La Salle has one of the most storied high school programs in any sport at any level and for our kids to play like this was awesome."
For his efforts, Negro is the 2013 MaxPreps National Football Coach of the Year. His squad was dominant from start to finish, first steamrolling a challenging early-season schedule and then coasting through Trinity League play, including two victories against Mater Dei.
In the playoffs, St. John Bosco seemingly got even better. Before knocking off mighty De La Salle, it first
beat perennial State Bowl Games contender Centennial (Corona), 70-49.
On the season, St. John Bosco outscored opponents 755-264.
The Braves' performance this season, as great as it was, was definitely not a fluke. With Negro's program in place, the Braves will be very good again in 2014, as star quarterback
Josh Rosen, starting running back
Sean McGrew and several key linemen return.
Almost certainly, the 2014 season will fail to match the magic of St. John Bosco's 2013 campaign. But with Negro at the helm, the dropoff won't be very significant.
Photos by Heston Quan and David Hood
