California high school football: St. John Bosco schedule, players to watch

Jason Negro was hired as the St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) head football coach before the 2010 season. He's turned the Braves into one of the best high school football programs in the country, earning MaxPreps National Champion honors in 2019 after the school's third CIF Open Division state championship with a 49-28 victory over De La Salle (Concord). The other two state titles came in 2013 and 2016.

Negro was the 2019 MaxPreps Coach of the Year after leading the Braves to a 13-1 record playing against the best competition in the country. Bosco had notable wins against Centennial (Corona), DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) and Servite (Anaheim) but the biggest came Nov. 30 against Trinity League rival Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.

The Braves won 39-34, outscoring the Monarchs 27-6 in the second half in one of the best high school football games of all-time.

It will be 455 days since the Braves played a game that counted when the Southern California power takes the field Saturday against Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth).

They have to fill a lot of holes left by key players but none will be harder than former co-National Player of the Year DJ Uiagalelei at quarterback. One of the most special players to come out of California, Uiagalelei was the fourth-best high school quarterback over the last 20 years.

Expect three-star junior Katin Houser and sophomore standout Pierce Clarkson to both get reps this spring under center. They both played well in a March 6 scrimmage against Damien (La Verne).

Running back will be a key position for the Braves led by four-star junior Rayshon Luke. Three-star juniors Jabari Bates and Michael Hayes also will be impact players out of the backfield this spring.

Beaux Collins, Kris Hutson and Logan Loya are all gone from that 2019 team but expect Jode McDuffie to be a name that turns heads this spring. He had 30 receptions for 595 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. Logan Booher should be a key player at receiver, too.

The Braves' offensive line stacks up with anyone's in high school football led by four-star junior Earnest Greene III, USC-bound Maximus Gibbs, UNLV-bound Anton Ambuehl and three-star senior Edward Riley.

Sophomore tight end Matayo Uiagalelei is a player many are excited to see this spring.

A matchup nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone, DJ's younger brother will start on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder checks in as the fifth-rated weak-side defensive end in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports.

Four-star edge rusher Nathan Burrell, three-star defensive tackle Jairus Satele and Uiagalelei give the Braves a big-time defensive line. All were named to the preseason MaxPreps All-State team.

At linebacker, the Braves are led by Kansas-bound Andrew Simpson, three-star junior Jalen Woods and senior Benny Lockhart. A name to keep tabs on is freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, with offers from Arizona, Michigan and UNLV already. Sophomore Deven Bryant was recently offered by Oregon and should also make an impact this spring.

Four-star cornerback Tayvion Beasley, four-star safety Sione Hala, three-star safety Jaxon Harley and sophomore Jahlil McClain fill out the secondary. Keep an eye out for freshmen Marcelles Williams and Peyton Woodyard. They have already combined for 17 FBS offers. 

Ty Lee is another name to watch out for. The sophomore is the younger cousin of former National Player of the Year Bru McCoy and already has offers from Arizona State, Oregon and USC.

The biggest game of the year for the defending national champs will come April 17 to close out the season against Mater Dei (Santa Ana). With there being no postseason in California this game will most likely determine the best team in the Golden State.

*Santa Ana Stadium