Column: St. John Bosco cruises past Concord De La Salle for its second state title
The St. John Bosco Braves win in frigid conditions.
As the temperature dipped into the low 30s on Saturday night at Sacramento State and fans wore beanies, mittens and wrapped themselves in blankets trying to stay warm, it was Bellflower St. John Bosco football players putting the heat on Concord De La Salle.
Whether it was Wyatt Davis knocking down linemen, quarterback Re-Al Mitchell picking apart the secondary or Terrance Beasley darting up and down the field, the Spartans had no answer for the depth and talent of the Braves.
St. John Bosco won its second CIF state championship Open Division bowl game with a 56-33 victory over the Spartans, long considered the No. 1 football program in California.
The Braves, however, are now 2-0 against De La Salle, including a 20-14 win in 2013 to end a 16-0 season.
It was the most points allowed by a De La Salle team since 1979, when Bob Ladouceur became coach. The Spartans had a 151-game win streak during his coaching era that ended in 2013.
Mitchell completed 18 of 20 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Beasley rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
The Braves had 358 yards rushing.
This time, St. John Bosco finishes 13-2 but has pulled off the improbable once again — beating powers Corona Centennial, Santa Ana Mater Dei and De La Salle in consecutive games.
In opening a 35-17 halftime lead, St. John Bosco gave up a 60-yard touchdown run to Kairee Robinson on the third play of the game.
All that did was energize the Braves’ offense, which retaliated by scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions.
There was a two-yard touchdown run by Demetrious Flowers; a six-yard touchdown run by Beasley, and a 10-yard touchdown reception by Terrell Bynum.
By halftime, Mitchell had completed 14 of 16 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns and the Braves outgained De La Salle, 333-162.
Two weeks ago, St. John Bosco used its running game to hand Mater Dei its first defeat. This time, Coach Jason Negro wanted more balance and gave the opportunity to Mitchell to show what he could do passing.
His favorite target was Northwestern-bound Berk-eley Holman, who caught a 16-yard touchdown pass and had seven receptions for 95 yards.
Everyone appeared to benefiting from the blocking of the Ohio State-bound Davis.
De La Salle put pressure on the Braves at the end of the third quarter, getting a field goal, recovering an onside kick and receiving a 43-yard touchdown reception from Isaiah Foskey to close to 42-27.
A two-yard touchdown run by Flowers with 9:10 left put an end to the Spartans’ comeback hopes.
De La Salle (11-2) received praise at halftime for allowing starting offensive guard Christian Villasenor to play the tuba in the school band.
Follow Eric Sondheimer on Twitter @latsondheimer
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