Seraphs Cruise by Paraclete Going 51

The big showdown between two of the state’s top-ranked small school football teams was a one-sided affair from the first snap.

St. Bonaventure High scored on five of its first six possessions and cruised to a 51-0 victory over Paraclete in a nonleague opener at Ventura High.

How one-sided?

Well, quarterback Jack Swisher of St. Bonaventure amassed 245 yards passing . . . in the first quarter.

And Paraclete turned the ball over five times.

The Seraphs, defending Southern Section Division XI champions, moved the ball at will in the first half, out-gaining Paraclete, 413-61, yards.

St. Bonaventure led, 37-0, at intermission.

In a game that featured two of the top junior running backs in the state, St. Bonaventure’s Lorenzo Booker and Curtis Brown of Paraclete, Swisher and his short passes for long gains stole the show.

Sophomore Whitney Lewis did most of the legwork for the Seraphs, finishing with 177 yards receiving and two touchdowns in six receptions.

“He’s phenomenal and he’s just a young pup,” said Coach Jon Mack of St. Bonaventure. “He’s just barely 15 years old. He’s going to be a special kind of player when we’re all through with him.”

On the first play of the game, Swisher hit Lewis over the middle at midfield and Lewis outran the secondary for a 75-yard score. Lewis also scored on an 18-yard reception in the third quarter.

Booker, who rushed for 35 touchdowns and nearly 2,500 yards last season, turned a screen-pass into a 78-yard touchdown to give the Seraphs a 24-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter.

Booker finished with 112 yards in 17 carries and scored on runs of one and seven yards.

Brown, who rushed for more than 2,600 yards last season, gained 131 yards in 18 carries, including 96 yards in the second half.

Swisher finished 13 of 17 for 298 yards and threw four touchdown passes and one interception.