High school football fans in California have been frustrated watching other states play football while their stadiums sit empty and the pads sit in dark equipment rooms. Two of the top programs in the state and country gave high school…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Subscribe for access to all premium articles and rankings.
Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inHigh school football fans in California have been frustrated watching other states play football while their stadiums sit empty and the pads sit in dark equipment rooms.
Two of the top programs in the state and country gave high school football fans something to look forward to. De La Salle and St. John Bosco will play each other in the season opener on January 8 in a rematch of last season’s CIF State Open Division championship game. The game will be played at the 7.2 million dollar Panish Family Stadium at St. John Bosco.
St. John Bosco won the state championship game last year 49-28 when now Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw for 398 yards and four touchdowns. He aso ran for 64 yards and a touchdown in the win. Bosco has won the last three meetings between the two schools.
Both teams had week one in their schedules open up when it was announced in July that football season will be pushed back until January. Each team had games scheduled against out of state opponents and had an opening on the schedule.
ANNOUNCING: Game 1 in Jan, 2021! To be the best you have to play the best! #DestinationBosco📍 pic.twitter.com/rDJrUtwCKA
— Bosco Football (@boscofootball) October 7, 2020
De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh likes to give the team high profile opponents in its nonleague schedule and the options were limited when the season got pushed back to January. Fortunately, the defending national champions happen to be in California and had the week open.
“Our kids are still out there working. They’re working hard. We felt like we owed them a great opportunity,” Alumbaugh told Darren Sabedra of Bay Area News Group. “We have a great relationship with coach (Jason) Negro. He and I were just talking. Why not? It sounds awesome, to start the season off with a bang.”
Final:
St. John Bosco 49 – De La Salle 28
**St. John Bosco wins the CIF Open state championship.** pic.twitter.com/yHVmf11S6X
— Jesús Cano (@Juice_Cano) December 15, 2019
In his team’s original schedule, Alumbaugh had scheduled Texas powerhouse North Shore in Houston. The game was supposed to be played in August and was going to broadcast on ESPN.
“Playing DLS to open the season in January is a complete honor and privilege for our program here at Bosco,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro told Sebedra. “We take great pride in competing against the best programs in the country and the Spartans are just that. I’m excited for this opportunity and I know our kids are as well and welcome the challenge.”
Rayshon Luke
Rayshon
Luke
5'9" | 170 lbs | RB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
is the only player on the St. John Bosco current roster who scored a touchdown in the state championship game last season.
Beaux Collins
Beaux
Collins
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
St. John Bosco | 2021
State
CA
scored for the Braves as well, but he is intending on skipping his senior season to enroll early at Clemson.
Sacramento State commit Dorian Hale returns at quarterback for De La Salle. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 212 yards in the state championship game.
Shamar Garrett was the top offensive weapon fo De La Salle last season. He rushed for 114 yards on just 13 carries in the championship game last season and is now at San Jose State.
This season’s game will feature several top prosepects. For Bosco:
Jode McDuffie
Jode
McDuffie
5'10" | 175 lbs | WR
St. John Bosco | 2021
State
CA
,
Kamren Blanton
Kamren
Blanton
5'11" | 180 lbs | DB
St. John Bosco | 2021
State
CA
,
Andrew Simpson
Andrew
Simpson
6'1" | 220 lbs | LB
St. John Bosco | 2021
State
CA
,
Earnest Greene
Earnest
Greene
6'5" | 330 lbs | OL
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Nathan Burrell
Nathan
Burrell
6'3" | 285 lbs | DL
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Tayvion Beasley
Tayvion
Beasley
5'10" | 165 lbs | DB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Sione Hala
Sione
Hala
6'2" | 200 lbs | DB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Jalen Woods
Jalen
Woods
6'0" | 205 lbs | LB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Jabari Bates
Jabari
Bates
5'8" | 160 lbs | RB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Katin Houser
Katin
Houser
6'3" | 195 lbs | QB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Jairus Satele
Jairus
Satele
6'1" | 300 lbs | DL
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Jaxon Harley
Jaxon
Harley
5'10" | 150 lbs | DB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
,
Michael Hayes
Michael
Hayes
5'8" | 165 lbs | RB
St. John Bosco | 2022
State
CA
and
Matayo Uiagalelei
Matayo
Uiagalelei
6'5" | 265 lbs | DL
St. John Bosco | 2023
State
CA
among others.
For De La Salle:
Kairo Reid
Kairo
Reid
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
De La Salle | 2021
State
CA
,
Brodie Tagaloa
Brodie
Tagaloa
6'4" | 260 lbs | TE
De La Salle | 2022
State
CA
,
Zeke Berry
Zeke
Berry
6'0" | 190 lbs | DB
De La Salle | 2022
State
CA
,
JJ Tofaeono
JJ
Tofaeono
6'0" | 255 lbs | DL
De La Salle | 2022
State
CA
,
Charles Greer
Charles
Greer
5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH
De La Salle | 2023
State
CA
and
Dylan Greeson
Dylan
Greeson
6'0" | 100 lbs | LB
De La Salle | 2023
State
CA
among others.
St. John Bosco will play a nine game schedule. Its nonleague opponents are De La Salle of Concord, Alemany of Mission Hills, Bishop Amat of La Puente and Monterey Trail of Oak Grove.
The Braves will finish the regular season against Trinity League rival Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on March 12.