FIELD REPORT

Bosco Tech, an all-boys’ school in Rosemead, has been one of the top Division III cross-country programs in the state for the last five years. But the Tigers have had little to cheer about in football until this season.

Bosco Tech (10-2), which plays Montclair Prep in a Southern Section Division XII semifinal at Valley College tonight, reached the Southern Section playoffs in the football program’s first year of existence in 1958. But the school dropped football after the 1962 season and didn’t revive it until 1995.

“They didn’t think we could field a quality football team at this school,” Coach Carlos Plantillas said. “But we’ve proved that we can.”

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Kicker Michael Garciaparra, brother of shortstop Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox, has played a big role in Bosco Tech’s success.

He has made eight of 12 field goals, including two 53-yard kicks and a 47-yarder with two seconds left in a 57-54 victory over Kilpatrick in the first round of the playoffs. He has consistently kicked off into the end zone and averages 43 yards a punt.

“He’s done a great job for us,” Plantillas said. “Other teams haven’t returned many kicks against us because he kicks [the ball] so deep into the end zone.”

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It was incorrectly reported in Thursday’s paper that La Canada (10-2) set a school record for victories in a season this year.

The Spartans were 12-0-2 in 1979 when they won a Southern Section title with a 21-7 victory over Lompoc.