High school football: Orange Lutheran upsets No. 4 St. John Bosco in Southern Section Division 1 playoffs

Braves were unbeaten and ranked No. 1 nationally two weeks ago – now their season is over.

Orange Lutheran delivered one of the biggest postseason upsets of the year Friday night, edging national powerhouse St. John Bosco 20–19 in a dramatic CIF Southern Section playoff battle.

The Lancers flipped the game in the fourth quarter with a momentum-swinging pick-six that put them ahead 20–13, capping a defensive performance that frustrated a Bosco offense loaded with playmakers. St. John Bosco answered in the final minute with a 13-yard touchdown strike to pull within one, but a missed extra point left the Braves still trailing and ultimately proved to be the difference.

Orange Lutheran shocks national power St. John Bosco with 20–19 thriller in CIF Southern Section playoffs 2,751 views 3:38

Ranked No. 1 nationally just two weeks ago, St. John Bosco (Bellflower) saw its season come to an end shockingly Friday night in a 20-19 loss to Orange Lutheran (Orange) in California's Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

The game swung in Orange Lutheran's favor dramatically early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 13-7, quarterback Reagan Toki hit Nico Bland for a 67-yard touchdown pass to put the Lancers up 14-13.

On Bosco's ensuing possession, King Rich Johnson intercepted Koa Malau'ulu and returned it 42 yards for a score.

Nico Bland's 67-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter gave Orange Lutheran a lead it wouldn't surrender. (FILE PHOTO: Marc Gewertz)

Malau'ulu rallied the Braves on a drive to tie the game, finding Madden Williams for a 12-yard touchdown with a minute left to play. But Bosco missed the extra point, an onside kick attempt failed and Orange Lutheran came away with the stunning victory.

St. John Bosco beat Orange Lutheran 48-0 in the regular season meeting between the Trinity League foes a little over a month ago.

Orange Lutheran (3-8) advances to meet Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) in next week's semifinals. After winning its first nine games in dominant fashion, St. John Bosco (9-2) falls short of 10 wins in a season for the first time in a non-COVID campaign since 2012.

High school football: Orange Lutheran upsets No. 4 St. John Bosco in Southern Section Division 1 playoffs

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