MaxPreps 2013 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 6 St. John Bosco

The 2012 record says 8-5, but there's an asterisk — a big one.

St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) was dealt a huge blow last season when it was forced to forfeit four nonleague wins for using an ineligible player. On the field, however, the Braves went 12-1.

That one loss was couldn't have come at a worse time, though.

St. John Bosco appeared to be on its way to the Pac-5 Division title game, with a No. 1 national ranking in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, before suffering a tough 13-10 loss to eventual state runner-up Long Beach Poly in the CIF Southern Section semifinals.



Trailing by three in the final minute, the Braves were driving at the Poly 45-yard line before an interception put an end to the comeback attempt and ended the season for St. John Bosco.

The forfeit losses and bitter end to an otherwise spectacular season could make St. John Bosco that much hungrier in 2013.

The Braves return 10 starters from a stingy defense that was the team's trademark last season. With seniors like linebacker Chandler Leniu, linemen Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Malik Dorton and Ivan Martinez, and a secondary featuring Naijiel Hale, Chandler Hawkins and Jaleel Wadood, points will not be easy to come by for St. John Bosco opponents.

On offense, the Braves will have to overcome the loss of their leading rusher, Darren Walker, and leading receiver, A.J. Holman. But quarterback Josh Rosen, who had a fine campaign as a sophomore starter last season passing for more than 2,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, is poised to take a huge leap forward.

Shay Fields will look to replace Holman as Rosen's top target, and the backfield of senior Lonell Woodhouse and newcomers Sean McGrew and Clifford Simms will attempt to keep the running game strong.

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Making holes for the running backs will be returning 300-plus-pounders Emery Sefo, Damien Mama and Elijiah Zabludoff, who will look to fill the extremely large void left by first team MaxPreps All-American and USC-bound Nico Falah.

St. John Bosco will travel for games against Clovis North (Fresno) and Chandler (Ariz.), but the toughest competition will come from the top-notch Trinity League, the toughest league in Southern California and one of the best in the nation. League play features games against perennial Southern California powers Mater Dei and Santa Margarita, as well as a Servite team that went to the state championship two years ago.

Even if they get through the league unscathed, as they did last season, the Braves then enter Pac-5 playoffs where they could face the likes of Notre Dame, Mission Viejo, St. Bonaventure and quite possibly a rematch with Long Beach Poly.

Long story short — if St. John Bosco manages to get through the gauntlet and win a California state title, a national championship is not out of the question.

Local look: "St. John Bosco, under coach Jason Negro, will be a force to be reckoned with once again this year. The Braves are coming off their first-ever Trinity League title and potentially could be even better than their one-loss (on the field) season of 2012. With another year of experience, junior quarerback Josh Rosen should improve on his stellar sophomore campaign. He has a beast of a lineman in front of him in 6-foot-5, 340-pound Damien Mama, and a lot of talent around him at the skill positions. Defense will be SJB's strength, with the likes of impact linebacker Chandler Leniu, defensive end Malik Dortman and defensive backs Jaleel Wadood and Naijiel Hale set to return."
- Dave Werstine, Long Beach Press-Telegram (@LBPrepSports)
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School size: Southern Section Pac-5, State Division I

Enrollment: 1,100 (Approx., all boys)



2012 finish: 8-5, lost to Long Beach Poly in Pac-5 semifinals

Head coach: Jason Negro

Career record: 78-39 (10 seasons, 7 at Trabuco Hills)

Years at school: 3

Notable players coached:
QB Todd Husak (Stanford, NFL)

OL Bill Reid (Stanford, NFL)



DB Leon McFadden (San Diego State, NFL)

QB Keith Price (Washington)
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No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 10 (defense)

Key losses:

RB Darren Walker

WR A.J. Holman

DL Aaron Laut

LB Elijah Lopez



Key returners:

QB Josh Rosen

WR Shay Fields

G Emery Sefo

T Damien Mama

C Elijiah Zabludoff



LB Chandler Leniu

DE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

DE Malik Dorton

DT Ivan Martinez

CB Naijiel Hale

CB Chandler Hawkins



S Jaleel Wadood

Key newcomers:

LB/RB Michael Ray

WR D.J. Morgan

RB Sean McGrew

WR Jordan Harris



RB Clifford Simms

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Toughest game: Bosco has put together a tough 2013 schedule, and Trinity League games are always difficult. That said, one foe stands out above the rest, and it's no surprise. Mater Dei is the toughest team on many schools' schedules this fall, and Bosco will have to work hard to repeat last year's 27-19 road victory over the Monarchs.

Question mark: The Braves lost a heart-breaker to Long Beach Poly in last year's Pac-5 semifinals while struggling offensively. Will this year's offense come in with a chip on its shoulder or will the players be unable to shake off the sting?

Local outlook: It's no secret that the Trinity League is the toughest in Southern California, and Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, Servite and Orange Lutheran will likely serve as formidable foes. But with the talent St. John Bosco has coming back, running the table in league once again is certainly not out of the question.

Overall outlook: With a host of returning players on defense, scoring on the Braves will be a difficult task. If the offense can put enough points on the board, St. John Bosco will be tough to beat.

Coach quote: "This might be the most talented team that I have ever had defensively. If we can pull things together offensively we could be pretty good."
- Jason Negro
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