St. Anthony football runs past Bishop Montgomery

LONG BEACH >> The St. Anthony High football team took care of business with a 43-6 nonleague victory over Bishop Montgomery at Clark Field on Friday.

“Our defense set the tone early as (Bishop Montgomery) only had two or maybe three first downs in the first half,” said Saints coach Mario Morales. “We are real big on the physical part of the game and I know our defense established that physicality early on and that was good for us.”

The Saints wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard on a 10-play, 58-yard drive on their first possession of the game, highlighted by a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Johnny Buksa to tight end Kaman Selu.

After forcing a three-and-out, Saints running back Talaun Patton bulldozed his way for nine yards on their next drive to give the Saints a 14-0 lead with a little over 4 minutes left in the quarter. St. Anthony had over 120 total yards in the first quarter and held Bishop Montgomery to 2 total yards.

“We work as one unit and when the team does what they are supposed to do and all of the players do their job, nobody can stop us,” said Buksa.

Buksa was in a groove for much of the night, finishing 15 for 29 for 209 yards and a touchdown, and he added 82 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

“I saw their weak spots, which was cover three on defense, so we got to throw more inside and they couldn’t stop our run because our offensive line was so strong so it really helped us on offense when we were able to throw the ball,” said Buksa.

On their first possession of the second quarter, the Saints had an eight-play, 60-yard drive that culminated with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by BJ Busbee and the rout was officially on.

St. Anthony added one more touchdown in the half when Buksa scrambled 27 yards for another score and the Saints went into halftime with a 29-point lead. The Saints’ defense was stifling in the first half, holding the Knights to under 40 total yards. Bishop Montgomery didn’t get its first first down until late in the half.

“Well, you know, it was typical Johnny for us,” Morales said. “He is just a winner and we are excited to have him because any time he touches the ball, he can make some great things happen and that’s what he did tonight.”

The Saints’ defense continued its pressure on the Knights when, on the second play of the third quarter, defensive back Tino Venegas intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.

St. Anthony moves to 3-0 at home on the season and 5-2 overall.

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