St. John Bosco football gets back on track with rout of Santa Margarita
The Braves bounce back from their loss in Hawaii with a dominant win over Santa Margarita in a Trinity League opener.
St. John Bosco running back Chauncey Sylvester dives into the endzone for a touchdown during a Trinity League game against Santa Margarita on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
MISSION VIEJO — The St. John Bosco football players were eager to get on the field for the first time after suffering their first nonleague loss since 2017 two weeks ago in Hawaii.
St. John Bosco bounced back with a dominant 42-7 win over Santa Margarita in both teams’ Trinity League opener Friday at Saddleback College.
St. John Bosco defender Tay Lockett intercepts a pass intended for Santa Margarita wide receiver Jack Junker during a Trinity League game between the two teams at Saddleback College on Friday night, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita tight end Kyle Brody carries the ball during a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita quarterback John Gazzaniga throws the ball during a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita quarterback John Gazzaniga throws the ball during a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco running back Chauncey Sylvester dives into the endzone for a touchdown during a Trinity League game against Santa Margarita on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez throws the ball during a 42-7 win over Santa Margarita during a Trinity League game between the two teams at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco wide receiver Madden Williams nearly comes down with a leaping touchdown in the back of the endzone, but can’t quite hold onto the ball, during a Trinity League game against Santa Margarita on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita cheerleaders perform on the field during halftime in the stadium at Saddleback College during a football game against St. John Bosco on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco wide receiver Stacy Dobbins carries the ball for a touchdown during a Trinity League game against Santa Margarita on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita quarterback John Gazzaniga throws the ball during a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco cheerleaders perform during a football game against Santa Margarita at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita tight end Kyle Brody carries the ball during a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita players and coaches take the field for a Trinity League game against St. John Bosco in the stadium at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco defensive back Jason Mitchell breaks up a potential touchdown pass intended for Santa Margarita wide receiver Sean Embree during a Trinity League game between the two teams on Friday night, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez throws the ball during a 42-7 win over Santa Margarita during a Trinity League game between the two teams at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez throws the ball during a 42-7 win over Santa Margarita during a Trinity League game between the two teams at Saddleback College on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
The Braves (5-1, 1-0) lost 30-23 against Kahuku of Hawaii on Sept. 16 and had a bye week to stir over the loss.
“I was really proud of how we rebounded,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said. “It was a painful two weeks and we couldn’t wait to get back on the field. I thought we cleaned a lot up from two weeks ago.”
St. John Bosco dominated the game in the trenches. The offensive line, led by Matai Jefferson, King Large and Matthew Perdue, opened up holes for running backs Cameron Jones and Chauncey Sylvester.
Jones, a UCLA commit, led the Braves with 136 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns. Sylvester had 84 yards rushing with three touchdowns.
“The offensive line played great and the holes were wide open for us,” Sylvester said.
The Bosco defensive line played very well too. Bosco held Santa Margarita (4-2, 0-1) to just 48 yards rushing and 133 yards of total offense.
Sophomore Dutch Horsick had a breakout game with three sacks. Jordan Lockhart and Kana’i Kekahuna Lopes added sacks and Tay Lockett had an interception.
“I was super impressed with our defensive line because I thought the Santa Margarita offensive line was the best we have seen so far,” Negro said. “Dutch did a really good job against two really good tackles. I think he caused disruption and he is super impressive for a sophomore.”
Santa Margarita quarterback John Gazzaniga completed 11 of 30 passes for 85 yards with a touchdown and interception.
Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez completed 21 of 31 passes for 182 yards with a touchdown and interception.
St. John Bosco’s Chauncey Sylvester, left, and Cameron Jones combined for 220 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a 42-7 win over Santa Margarita on Friday, Sept. 29, at Saddleback College. (Photo by Michael Huntley)
The Braves dominated the first quarter. St. John Bosco had 137 yards of offense in the quarter compared to just seven yards for Santa Margarita.
Sylvester capped a 51-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Braves an early 7-0 lead.
Sanchez threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Stacy Dobbins to increase the Braves lead to 14.
Sylvester ran for his second touchdown of the game from 14-yards out to put the Braves in front 21-0 early in the second quarter.
The Eagles got on the board late in the second quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Gazzaniga to Sean Embree to make the score 21-7 entering halftime. Sophomore defensive back Trey Brown had an interception for the Eagles which led to the scoring drive.
Jones ran for two touchdowns in the third quarter, one 52-yard score and a 1-yard score to give the Braves a 35-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Sylvester ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 42-7.
“We came back with our senior leadership and got everything straightened out,” Jones said. “After the week off we were fresh and had to make a statement like this.”
St. John Bosco will host Servite on Friday, Oct. 6.
Santa Margarita will host Orange Lutheran for its homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 6.
