Football: Gavin Windes earns himself a special place in St. John Bosco history

It has been three weeks since St. John Bosco’s 20-14 victory over Concord De La Salle in the CIF state championship Open Division bowl game, and Gavin Windes’ life has been forever changed.

“I’ve been enjoying everything,” said Windes, a junior defensive end who came up with the decisive interception with just over two minutes left that put an end to a possible De La Salle comeback bid.

Windes started only a couple of games this past season. He was inserted into games when the Braves needed someone to put pressure on the quarterback. His best sport is baseball (he’s a first baseman), but his interception made him a celebrity on campus and elsewhere.

“My parents have been getting bombarded on Facebook,” he said. “I’m getting messages from old baseball coaches. Everything is happening so fast. It’s amazing. It’s so cool.”

Windes’ father, Cary, was a standout player for St. John Bosco on the 1986 team that lost to Crespi in the Big Five Conference championship game. Windes wears the same No. 29 as his father. When he came back to school following the holiday break, he was greeted warmly.

“It was surreal,” he said. “People were coming up to me shaking my hand. I was dumbfounded. I never thought something like that would ever happen to me.”

Windes’ football instincts kicked in. He thought a screen pass was coming and was in perfect position to make the interception.

Now he’s getting ready for baseball season, but in St. John Bosco history, he’ll be remembered as the player who made the key play to beat De La Salle and help the Braves finish 16-0.

Eric.sondheimer@latimes.com