The Braves turned a 7-7 halftime tie at the Rose Bowl into what appeared to be a comfortable lead Friday in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game before the reigning MaxPreps National Champions made things interesting.
The Mater Dei loss ends the 34-year career of head coach Bruce Rollinson.
Brown, a junior, was 29-0 in his high school career, including a 17-7 win over Bosco earlier this season. Since the Oct. 7 loss, the Braves had won five straight, outscoring opponents 225-34. St. John Bosco now heads to the CIF Open Division title game against
Serra (San Mateo) on Dec. 10 at Saddleback College.
Pierce Clarkson, who didn't play the second half of the first meeting with Mater Dei, tossed three touchdown passes despite missing a few series with a lower leg injury. He found paydirt with throws to
Matayo Uiagalelei,
DeAndre Moore and
Jahlil McClain.
St. John Bosco's Jahlil McClain caught a first-half touchdown pass of the Braves' 24-22 win over Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final.(Photo: Louis Lopez)
Bosco now controls its destiny in terms of a third MaxPreps National Championship. Jason Negro (Head Coach) led the Braves to state titles in 2013, 2016 and 2019 while being named national champions in 2013 and 2019.
After an offensive stalemate through the 24 minutes, the Braves struck first — and quickly — to start the second half as wideout McClain made a spectacular diving grab on a Clarkson pass that set St. John Bosco up on the Mater Dei 21. Clarkson didn't waste much time floating a 20-yard TD pass to 6-foot-6 tight end Uiagalelei, who wrestled the ball from the defensive back, for a 14-7 lead less than 50 seconds into the second half.
Marcus Brown and Mater Dei answered immediately. On third down, Elijah Brown hit Marcus Brown on a slant and the three-star outraced everyone for a 76-yard score, but the point after was missed and St. John Bosco led 14-13 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
The Braves wasted little time adding to their advantage with a quick in-route to Moore, who bounced it outside and outraced the Mater Dei secondary for a 78-yard score and a 21-13 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the Monarchs fumbled the ball and
Frankie Edwards III fell on it leading to a 33-yard field goal and a 24-13 Bosco edge with under seven minutes left in the third.
In the opening 24 minutes, it was defense that led to offense for both Mater Dei and St. John Bosco.
The Monarchs struck first, capitalizing on a St. John Bosco fumble. Set up in plus territory, Mater Dei found the end zone a few plays later on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Brown to Marcus Harris with about four minutes left in the first quarter.
Near the start of the second period, the Braves forced a turnover on downs with Mater Dei driving. A few plays later, Clarkson tossed a dime on play-action, hitting McClain on a post route for a 45-yard score that tied the game at 7.
Pierce Clarkson led St. John Bosco to a 24-22 win over No. 1 Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section Open Division finals.(Photo: Louis Lopez)
