2017 Early Contenders high school football preview: No. 4 St. John Bosco

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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 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. 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.) 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.