St. Francis keeps it steady in victory over Buena Park, 28-19

In a contrast of sustained drives versus big plays, it was the steady offense of St. Francis High that proved more effective in a 28-19 victory over visiting Buena Park on Friday night in nonleague play.

With the win, St. Francis closed out its nonleague slate with a 5-0 mark and will begin Angelus League play next week, while previously unbeaten Buena Park fell to 4-1 as it commences Freeway League play.

St. Francis quarterback Michael Bonds, nephew of Golden Knights Coach Jim Bonds, completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 56 yards with one score.

Buena Park certainly received its share of big efforts, as quarterback Deshaun Harvey completed 19 of 31 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Coyotes wide receiver Devon Cooley hauled in five receptions for two touchdowns and 99 yards, and Victor Bates caught five passes for 99 yards.

For all the offensive fireworks, it was a Golden Knights’ defensive stand that virtually ended the game.

With St. Francis leading, 28-19, with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter, Buena Park drove from its nine-yard line to the Golden Knights’ 19.

But after three plays and a loss of five yards, Harvey heaved a ball that fell incomplete out of the end zone with 2:19 remaining.

For Buena Park, the drive marked the fourth time in the game that the Coyotes marched into St. Francis territory, only to come away empty. They turned the ball over on downs three times, with Golden Knights defensive back Gabriel Mathews ending another drive with an interception.

St. Francis, which had a 21-6 halftime lead, seemingly put the game away when Bonds led a 17-play, 80-yard drive that spanned nearly six minutes and resulted in a nine-yard keeper that put the Golden Knights ahead, 28-13, with 10:29 left in the game.

andrew.campa@latimes.com

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