Saturday SoCal Bowl Highlights

St. John Bosco running back Sean McGrew pauses to take some breaths after he scored one of his long TD runs during game vs. Corona Centennial. Photo: Scott Kurtz.

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CIF Southern California
Open Division Bowl Game

St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 70, Centennial (Corona) 49

Records: St. John Bosco 15-0, Centennial 12-3.

State Rankings Coming In: St. John Bosco No. 2 overall, No. 1 in SoCal D1; Centennial No. 4 overall, No. 2 in SoCal D1. The scope of the Bosco win probably is enough to send Centennial down behind one or two other CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division teams in the overall rankings.

Game Highlights: As expected, an offensive display of fireworks ensued in this game. The Braves had leads of 14-0 and 21-7 in the first half, but were tied at 21-21 at halftime. They quickly took control in the third quarter. McGrew scored on a 82-yard run and was followed almost immediately with a Josh Rosen scoring pass. McGrew then scored on a 76-yard screen pass. For the game, McGrew had 17 carries for 372 yards and six TDs with the 76-yard TD on the screen pass. Centennial, as expected, went up and down the field almost as frequently. RB Trey Watson had 46 carries for 265 yards. QB Robert Webber completed 35 of 60 passes for 419 yards. As a unit, the Huskies also had 773 yards. The totals aren’t yet official, but it looks like Centennial has broken a national record for total offensive yards in a season with more than 9,000.

Historical Significance: After winning the school’s first CIFSS title last weekend, the Braves will now be going to their first CIF state bowl game. Depending on what happens earlier next Saturday in the Division III state bowl game, Bosco also will be trying to become the first or second team in state history to finish 16-0.

Quick Look To Next Week: It almost always takes teams several series or even an entire half to get used to the way De La Salle fires off the ball when it’s on offense. There’s really no way to practice against it. It won’t be a problem if Bosco gives up one or two long scoring drives in the first half but is still tied or ahead due to its own offense scoring.

Corona Centennial running back Tre Watson gets surrounded by the St. John Bosco defense during Saturday night’s game. Photo: Scott Kurtz.

Records: Chaminade 13-2, Hart 12-3.

State Rankings Coming In: Chaminade No. 5 overall, No. 1 in SoCal D2; Hart No. 19 overall, No. 3 in SoCal D2. By avenging an earlier loss to Hart and having the big win over Serra of Gardena, it’s now an easy call to move the Eagles to No. 3 in the next state ratings.

Game Highlights: This wasn’t quite the shootout like the 55-54 win in overtime by Hart over Chaminade from September. It was more of a grind it out win by the Eagles with the defense harassing Hart QB Brady White and holding him to a reported 244 yards with one interception and just one TD. Joel Loth led that defense with four sacks. Corey Watkins rushed for Chaminade’s first two scores and had 14 carries for 91 yards. The clinching TD in the fourth quarter came on a 22-yard TD run by Yancy Kieren.

Historical Significance: Chaminade came into its Saturday night game against Hart after winning the school’s first CIFSS title one week earlier. The Eagles will now play in their first CIF state bowl game and will attempt to win their first CIF state football crown.

Quick Look To Next Week: Southern California’s superior depth in having top-tier teams compared to the north makes it tough for the north to have much of a chance in the D2 game. Enterprise of Redding has a very good offensive line and an outstanding junior running back, but it’s not quite the same as having a QB headed to Miami, an RB headed to Colorado and several other D1 recruits. We’ll have a good preview of this game because there may not be anyone who has seen both teams play in recent weeks.

CIF Southern California
Division III Bowl Game

Records: Corona del Mar 15-0, Nordhoff 13-2.

State Rankings Coming In: Corona del Mar No. 22 overall, No. 1 in SoCal D3; Nordhoff No. 2 in SoCal D3.

Game Highlights: Cornerback Matt Derverian gave the Sea Kings a huge boost in the first quarter when he picked off a pass and raced for a 42-yard touchdown. The Nordhoff offense, which did have some success with QB Tanner Workman throwing the ball, couldn’t run it and also suffered one more interception and another fumble. CdM quarterback Luke Napolitano passed for 155 yards and scored on a 11-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Historical Significance: Since St. John Bosco is playing in the final game of the weekend, the Sea Kings can become the first football team in California history to post a 16-0 season record if they can win against Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton. This is a school accustomed to great success in many sports – girls volleyball, boys & girls cross country, boys & girls water polo, boys & girls swimming and boys & girls tennis – but has never been on a run like this in football. The Sea Kings also now have a 25-game win streak, second longest in the state behind De La Salle at 40.

Quick Look To Next Week: Sacred Heart Prep is a crafty bunch under head coach Pete Laverato. Think about how Palo Alto upset Corona Centennial a few years ago or about how Stanford always seems to find a way to slow down Oregon. The Gators are from the same neighborhood and play the same way – physical, smart and mentally tough.

Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @CalHiSports