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Video: 2017 Early Contenders - No. 4 St. John Bosco
Host Zack Poff takes a look at the defending CIF Open Division
state champs and what it will take to win the school's third state
title since 2013.
Head coach: Jason Negro
Last season: 13-2, No. 5 national ranking, beat De La Salle in CIF Open Division championship game, 56-33
Last decade: 91-32, two state titles
Famous alumni/players: Former MLB shortstop and six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, Kansas City Chiefs OG Damien Mama, Bellator MMA fighter Aaron Pico, UCLA QB Josh Rosen

Head coach Jason Negro has built a dynasty at St. John Bosco.
Photo by Louis Lopez
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Re-al Mitchell (5-10, 190, Sr.) — The 3-star quarterback is an Iowa State commit.
DB Jaiden Woodbey (6-2, 205, Sr.) — Committed to Ohio State, he's the No. 4 safety in the Class of 2018.
RB Demetrious Flowers (5-11, 200, Sr.) — He's a 3-star running back and committed to Arizona State.
S Stephan Blaylock (5-10, 175, Sr.) — He's headed to UCLA and is a 4-star safety.
CB Chris Steele (6-1, 175, Jr.) — He's also headed to UCLA and is a 4-star cornerback.

Defensive back Jaiden Woodbey
Photo by Louis Lopez
KEY GAMES
Aug. 25 — at No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Sept. 8 — vs. Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.)
Sept. 23 — at St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Oct. 13 — vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Running back Demetrious Flowers
Photo by Louis Lopez
STORYLINES* St. John Bosco is trying to do something only De La Salle has done since the CIF bowl games got started back in 2006 — win back-to-back CIF state championships in the top classification.
* Negro has turned the Braves into a national power since taking over in 2010. Before he took over as head coach, Bosco hadn't produced a winning season in the Trinity League since 2004. Under Negro the Braves have posted a winning record in the Trinity League every year except for his first season. They had their four-year run of Trinity League championships snapped last season but they got revenge on Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game. Since Negro took over, the Braves have gone 75-19 and over the last four seasons they have gone 54-5 and won the only two state championships in school history.
* Mitchell returns at quarterback and he had a monster junior year with nearly 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was also the team's second-leading rusher with over 1,000 yards on the ground to go with 15 scores. The scary thing is he hasn't even come close to hitting his full potential.
* Bosco loves traveling on the road to open up the season. Last year the Braves went to St. Xavier (Cincinnati) backyard and beat them 34-0, and in 2017 they open up with the three-time defending 7A Florida state champ, and the No. 5 team in the country, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) on ESPNU.

Quarterback Re-al Mitchell
Photo by Louis Lopez