BELLFLOWER - The St. John Bosco Braves football team defeated Orange Lutheran last Friday night 21-6 and improved their league record to 1-0 and overall record to 2-4.Although Bosco has won all six of their games on the field, their first four wins were forfeited due to an ineligible player participating in each of those games. As of Oct. 8, St. John Bosco is currently ranked 7th in the C.I.F. PAC-5 Division poll and first in the Long Beach Press Telegram poll. Coach Jason Negro certainly has his team playing at a high level. (Coach Negro's mother, Anna Negro, works with me at East Middle School in the office.) Orange Lutheran scored at the 5:24 mark of the first quarter after a snap for a Brave punt went through the hands of punter Richard Cole at the Brave 37 yard line. The ball rolled around and ended up on the St. John Bosco three yard line. Lancer quarterback Luke Langdon scored two plays later on a one yard keeper. The extra point was no good but Orange Lutheran took a 6-0 lead. The Braves marched the ball down the field on their ensuing possession and scored on a Darren Walker three yard touchdown run. The extra point was good and St. John Bosco took a 7-6 lead at the 2:23 mark of the first quarter. The two teams exchanged the ball and field position for the entire second quarter with no one scoring. St. John Bosco took a 7-6 lead into the locker room at halftime. St. John Bosco kicked the ball off to Orange Lutheran to start the second half. The Lancers could not sustain a drive and were forced to punt the ball back to St. John Bosco. The two teams, once again, exchanged the ball and field position. Walker scored his second touchdown of the game from six yards out at the :51 second mark of the third quarter. The extra point was good. The Braves led at the end of the third quarter 14-6 and appeared to have the momentum on their side. St. John Bosco sealed the win on a 19 yard pass play from Brave quarterback Josh Rosen to A.J. Holman at the 3:40 mark of the fourth quarter. The extra point was good and Bosco won 21-6. Rosen finished the game 12/23 passing for 143 yards and one touchdown. Brave running back Darren Walker finished the game with 17 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns. The Braves will play JSerra this evening in another Trinity League game.

********** Published: October 11, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 26