St. John Bosco football looks strong in scrimmage

BELLFLOWER >> Most of the local high school football teams are participating in preseason scrimmages this week, and reigning CIF State champion St. John Bosco hosted its scrimmage Thursday against Long Beach Wilson.

Bosco, ranked No. 4 in the nation according to MaxPreps, dominated the abbreviated game and special teams portion in preparation for the Aug. 25 season opener in Florida against St. Thomas Aquinas.

“It was about time we played another opponent,” Bosco coach Jason Negro said. “It was starting to get a little chippy in practice. Guys were getting antsy and wanted to compete against somebody else. You never really know where you’re at until you play someone else.”

The Bosco defense set the tone with five dominant series against Wilson that included a handful of tackles for loss and an interception retued for a touchdown by senior safety Stephan Blaylock. Senior defensive back Jaiden Woodbey also had a couple tackles and retued the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Woodbey had 70 tackles last year after transferring from Upland High and is verbally committed to Ohio State.

“Last year at this time we were still trying to figure out who was going to play where,” Woodbey said of the secondary. “This year, everyone in the defensive backfield can all play different positions, but we all have a set position so that helps in preparation.”

The first-string Bosco offense scored on all of its possessions during the two 10-minute quarters. Senior running back Demetrious Flowers scored two touchdowns in the red zone, and quarterback Re-Al Mitchell ran in a touchdown of his own before giving way to backup Dj Uiagalelei. The 6-foot-5 sophomore threw two long touchdown passes.

“We played a lot of players because we know we’re going to play a lot of guys in Florida with the humidity and the heat,” Negro said. “Everyone played at a high level and there wasn’t much of a drop off. It was a complete effort today and that’s something we’re going to need to have against tougher competition.”

Wilson, which reached its first CIF-SS semifinal since 1991 last year, opens this season at home against Mayfair On Aug. 25.

Long Beach Poly

The Jackrabbits will host an intersquad scrimmage and community event Saturday moing, with football beginning at 9 a.m. and a BBQ lunch to follow around noon. The Jackrabbits are eschewing a scrimmage against another opponent for a second consecutive year and will instead compete against themselves in advance of their Aug. 25 season opener against Los Alamitos. Poly is ranked No. 10 in the nation, according to MaxPreps.

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Three isn’t a crowd

Moore League counterparts Jordan and Cabrillo are traveling to participate in a scrimmage format on Friday with three other teams. Jordan is at Mountain View High with Sierra Vista and Cantwell Sacred Heart. Cabrillo is at St. Beards with St. Pius Matthias X and the Califoia School For The Deaf. This is the first time in 25 years that St. Pius Matthias X will field an 11-man team. Both Cabrillo and Jordan coaches said scrimmaging multiple teams from lower divisions will give their squads multiple formations and looks that will help in the upcoming season.

The champs are here

St. Anthony and Valley Christian are both coming off CIF-SS championship seasons. The Crusaders will travel to Mayfair for a scrimmage on Friday. Valley Christian head coach Woodie Grayson was a longtime co-head coach at Mayfair. St. Anthony doesn’t have a Week Zero game so the Saints will face Esperanza on Thursday for their scrimmage.

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