St. John Bosco vs. Mater Dei Preview: Players to Watch
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Finally! The biggest game of the high school football season in the country is this Saturday. St. John Bosco and Mater Dei are arguably the two best teams in the country and have both won National Championships in the past…
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Continue ReadingFinally! The biggest game of the high school football season in the country is this Saturday.
St. John Bosco and Mater Dei are arguably the two best teams in the country and have both won National Championships in the past three years.
Both teams and media have circled this date on the calendar ever since the season was announced.
There are countless Division 1 signees and prospects in this game. Here are a few of the players I expect to be crucial in this game.
I will be in attendance for this game. Make sure to follow me on Twitter @MikeHuntley63 for updates from the sidelines.
Sione Hala Sione Hala 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA , St. John Bosco, 2022
Hala has been a ballhawk on defense all season long for the Braves and will be crucial in stopping Mater Dei’s very good passing offense. He covers so much of the field with his speed and his length at 6-foot-2 helps him in jump ball situations. He is the best player in the St. John Bosco secondary and his speed should make the freshman quarterback at Mater Dei think twice before throwing over the middle.
First mistake by Duran.
Power 5 target @hala_sione snatches this Interception. Also a UNLV target.@joearrigo @kamfab31 @Juice_Cano pic.twitter.com/Nr12KHVls2
— Lorenzo J. Reyna (@LJ_Reyna) March 14, 2021
Rayshon Luke Rayshon Luke 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA , St. John Bosco, 2022
The Braves have multiple Division 1 caliber running backs but Luke is the one with the best big play ability. He has the longest run of the season for the Braves, an 82-yard touchdown run against Santa Margarita. Jabari Bates Jabari Bates 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA is also a big play guy but Luke has the speed to outrun Mater Dei defenders in space. He is banged up and has had limited carries the past few games, but I expect both teams to pull out all the weapons in this one. Luke has 12 offers and recruiting analysts expect him to commit to USC.
#USC RB Target RAYSHON ‘SPEEDY’ LUKE Gallops 75 Yards for Another @boscofootball TD❕🏃🏽♂️💨💨🔥
Braves lead Santa Margarita 14-7 with 2:50 left in 1st Qtr @USCScoop #FightOn✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/yIeQ0TmQgg
— Scott Schrader (@SSchraderOn3) March 21, 2021
Matayo Uiagalelei Matayo Uiagalelei 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , St. John Bosco, 2023
He is a two-way star that is already a national recruit. He doesn’t get a lot of targets as a tight end but he is a matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators in the redzone. He had two catches, both for touchdowns against man coverage in the Braves closest game of the season against Servite. He has drawn comparisons to Rob Gronkowski and it’s easy to see why. Uiagalelei can also impact the game as a defensive end as well.
Good luck stopping 6-foot-6, 265-pound TE/ DE Matayo Uiagalelei! 😳@boscofootball up 31-28 with 5:18 left in game! 🍿 @young_concrete
(Via @ncaarecruits ) https://t.co/10x9q8oqPj pic.twitter.com/NDzSNbYR1M
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) March 27, 2021
4️⃣⭐️SOPHOMORE Matayo Uiagalelei, brother of Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, is proving to be a FREAK! He’s not only a 6-foot-6, 265-pound DE, but he can also line up wide as a MISMATCH. Nightmare on both sides of the ball!
(Via @Scott_Schrader ) @young_concrete @DUiagalelei pic.twitter.com/eGxJlu7t1Y
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) March 21, 2021
Earnest Greene Earnest Greene 6'5" | 330 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA , St. John Bosco, 2022
Bosco has the slight advantage at offensive line in this game and it’s largely due to Greene. He is the left tackle for the Braves and will be tasked with stopping the Mater Dei pass rush. He is around 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds and moves very well for someone of his size. He and Maximus Gibbs Maximus Gibbs 6'6" | 370 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2021 State CA are an elite run blocking duo as well.
It was great to cover some live football again last night and see top #USC OL target Earnest Greene in action. pic.twitter.com/xKKJV1BCWj
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) March 14, 2021
Nathan Burrell Nathan Burrell 6'3" | 285 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA , St. John Bosco, 2022
Burrell is a great pass rusher who made the biggest defensive play in the game when Bosco played Mater Dei last year in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game. He rushed quarterback Bryce Young in his own endzone and forced an intentional grounding penalty. Burrell also tipped a ball and intercepted it in that game. He also has the ability to deflect short passes and make plays in the running game.
🔥🔥Everyone To Got To Know 2022 @boscofootball WDE Nathan Burrell Saturday Night vs Mater Dei‼️ @USCScoop #FEARTHESPEAR🍢 pic.twitter.com/UQzVk4nwW1
— Scott Schrader (@SSchraderOn3) December 3, 2019
Nathan Burrell blocks and intercepts Young, his second INT thrown tonight. Unbelievable plays keep on comin' from @boscofootball in the second half 😲#PrepZone pic.twitter.com/5YAwJ3LtXE
— PrepZone (@prepzone) December 1, 2019
Elijah Brown, Mater Dei, 2024
Brown is the freshman quarterback for Mater Dei who is playing the biggest game of his young career so far. There won’t be a capacity crowd for this game like in years past, but media and scouts will be watching and the game is televised. He has played extremely well for the Monarchs this season, completing 71 percent of his passes for 770 yards and 11 touchdowns compared to just one interception. It will be interesting to see how he does against a top team like Bosco.
Top #USC WR target CJ Williams finds the end zone on a big strike from Elijah Brown for Mater Dei. @CJWilliams_03 pic.twitter.com/5gIXTunYBJ
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) April 10, 2021
David Bailey David Bailey 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Mater Dei, 2022
Bailey has only played in one game this season against Servite. In that game he had four sacks and proved that he is the best pass rusher in Southern California for his class. He did not play last week against Santa Margarita but I expect him to play and be very active against Bosco. The Braves have two quarterbacks, Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA and Katin Houser Katin Houser 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA and they may have to extend plays with their legs due to Bailey being in the backfield.
David Bailey foi o destaque defensivo de Mater Dei contra Servite.
Foram 4 sacks, 1 fumble forçado e 10 tackles.
Bailey é da classe de 2022 e já recebeu 10 ofertas de bolsas de estudos, incluindo gigantes como Oklahoma, LSU, Notre Dame e Alabama. pic.twitter.com/YDMGbuPKaa
— Luiz Fernando (@lfernando86) April 7, 2021
Domani Jackson Domani Jackson 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Mater Dei, 2022
Jackson is the best defensive back in this game and whoever he is playing man coverage on is going to have a long night. The Mater Dei secondary is so athletic and quick to the ball with Jackson, Josh Hunter Josh Hunter 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Mater Dei | 2022 State CA and Shoes Brinkley Shoes Brinkley 5'9" | 185 lbs | ATH Mater Dei | 2021 State CA . Jackson deflects a lot of passes but doesn’t have an interception yet this season. What better time to force a big turnover than in the biggest game of the season? Jackson is verbally committed to USC.
People Wanted to See These Two 5-Stars Battle It Out Last Night❕⚔️
Both Will Play on Sundays 🏈
Could We See Domani Jackson and TMac On Howard Jones Field at #USC In 2022❔
🎥 @USCScoop #FightOn✌🏼️ pic.twitter.com/SENK4ZFXY0
— Scott Schrader (@SSchraderOn3) April 4, 2021
Kyron Ware-Hudson Kyron Ware-Hudson 6'1" | 205 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2021 State CA , Mater Dei, 2021
From one USC commit to another Monarch who signed with the Trojans. Mater Dei has used Ware-Hudson sparingly this season, probable because he is already signed, but he is heating up lately. He had a 21-yard touchdown catch against Santa Margarita and I expect the Monarchs to unleash him in this important game. With him, CJ Williams CJ Williams 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Quincy Craig Quincy Craig 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Josiah Zamora and Cooper Barkate Cooper Barkate 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , the Mater Dei passing attack may overwhelm the Bosco defense.
#USC WR signer Kyron Ware-Hudson (@kyron___hudson) with a 21-yard touchdown for Mater Dei. pic.twitter.com/IoBeh4Fgdb
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) April 10, 2021
Raesjon Davis Raesjon Davis 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2021 State CA , Mater Dei, 2021
Davis is the best inside linebacker in this game and will be tasked with stopping the very good Bosco running game. He is so versatile and is a very good pass rusher, tackler and pass defender. He had a sack against Servite, an interception against JSerra and a fumble recovery against Orange Lutheran. I expect him to be near the ball on any play within the hashes in his last high school game.
#USC LB signee Raesjon Davis causing havoc in the backfield already tonight, as he does. (@raesjon1) @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/AtITV9VKcC
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) April 10, 2021