For all that wait and anticipation, this one didn't take long to decide. Third-ranked and host
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) scored three touchdowns in the first six minutes Friday, then let its defense do the rest in a 35-12 opening night win over No. 15
Central (Miami, Fla.) in a battle of perennial national powers.
Jabari Bates scored for three touchdowns, two in the first four minutes, and another early in the fourth quarter as the Braves (1-0) took much of the steam out early from the first big cross-state national battle since the pandemic.
The Rockets (0-1), the two-time defending Florida 6A champs, hung tough after the early Bosco onslaught behind its defense, led by preseason All-State performers linebacker
Wesley Bissanthe and tackle
Rueben Bain. But they couldn't muster nearly enough offense in their first ever trip to California.
"I was most pleased with our physicality and ability to be equally as fast as them across the board," Bosco coach Jason Negro said. "I was fearful they might have more team speed than us but it wasn't the case."
The Braves recovered a fumble on Central's first possession and immediately cashed it in on a 3-yard catch and run by Bates, making it 7-0 before two minutes had passed.
Following a quick three-and-out, Bates was in the end zone again on a 31-yard run, making it 14-0. The Rockets went nowhere on their third drive. Following a short punt, Bosco was back in the end zone once more, this time a 3-yard touchdown pass from
Pierce Clarkson to
Jahlil Mcclain. Clarkson added another TD pass in the final four minutes of play.
Midway through the first quarter, Bosco led 21-0 and it was on its way.
Jabari Bates with one of his two first-quarter touchdowns for St. John Bosco.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Central allowed just 78 points during an abbreviated nine-game 2020 championship season, capturing its seventh state title since 2010. After six minutes Friday, the Miami program was almost a third of the way to that total thanks to short fields for Bosco.
But the Rockets didn't travel nearly 2,800 miles to get blown out, showing resolve by holding Bosco scoreless the rest of the half while getting field goals of 40 and 39 yards by
Jayden John to close to 21-6.
Late in the half, Central missed an opportunity to close within a possession after a
Caleb McKenzie interception put the ball inside the Bosco 20. But a couple plays later, the Rockets fumbled the ball inside the 5 to keep the Braves up by 15 points at halftime.
"I liked the way we ran to the football and tackled very well too," Negro said.
Bates scored his third touchdown on a 28-yard run with 11 minutes to go to make it 28-6. The Rockets responded by finally getting in the end zone as
Ean Pope hauled in a 10-yard pass from
Dylan Tulloch with six minutes left. The Braves added a late score on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Clarkson to
Chedon James.
This was the first meeting between the two national powers. They were scheduled to play last season in Miami but the pandemic shut down California's fall season.
Central has a bye next week before returning out west to face Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), a team it beat on the road in 2017 Bosco is scheduled to host Alemany (Mission Hills), the state's No. 9 team, on Aug. 27.
Chedan James (8) runs past Central's Qualyn McQueen (16)
Photo by Louis Lopez
Jalen Woods (9) wraps up Central quarterback Keyone Jenkins.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Central's Ruben Bain (11) and Alfonzo Allen (7) lower the boom in this hard-hitting tilt.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Jabari Bates (6) is off to the races for one of his three touchdowns.
Photo by Louis Lopez
