High School

Live score update final: St. John Bosco uses big plays to defeat San Mateo Serra

Bosco scores on seven consecutive possessions, including on three plays over 60 yards in 56-16 victory over Padres

Mitch Stephens

St. John Bosco sophomore Maliq Allen on way to a 62-yard touchdown run in the first quarter in nonleague game at Serra on 9/14/2024
St. John Bosco sophomore Maliq Allen on way to a 62-yard touchdown run in the first quarter in nonleague game at Serra on 9/14/2024 / Photo: Dennis Lee

If it's not one way for St. John Bosco, it's another. And if it's not one top-level athlete, it's someone else.

The nation's No. 2 team according to SBLive, struck with one big play after another, on offense and defense, in a 56-16 win at San Mateo Serra in a rematch of the 2022 CIF State Open Division title game.

The Padres (1-2) couldn't muster a point in that game, but on Saturday, a beautiful, warm late summer day, Serra moved the ball effectively, but had a couple deep-drive mishaps, including the game's final touchdown on an 88-yard pick six by linebacker Cole Clifton.

Even when Serra finished off drives — with short touchdown runs from Nano Latu and sophomore Heneghan — it couldn't possibly keep up with the high-powered, quick-strike Braves who started their scoring with a 62-yard touchdown run by speedy Malik Allen and a 65-yard TD bomb from Matai Fuiava to Carson Cark.

Fuiava also had TD passes to freshman Darren Tubbs (28 yards) and Madden Williams (19) in the first half before a three-score flurry in the third on short TD runs by Ashton Keys and Jeremy Lenore, plus Tubbs' second TD catch, a 32-yarder from another ninth-grader, Koa Malau'ulu made the nearly 400-mile journey worthwhile.

Though the Braves (4-0) have traveled all the nation since Jason Negro took over in 2010, this was their first trip to Northern California.

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St. John Bosco receiver Carson Clark had one of four touchdown catches for the Braves in a 56-16 win over Serra on 9/14/2024 / Photo: DennIs Lee

The Braves won the 2022 championship game with Serra 45-0 in the only other time the teams have met. Serra, with 18 new starters off last year's team, were hoping for a different result.

AT A GLANCE: St. John Bosco at Serra

Serra (1-1) opened the season with an inspiring 22-21 opening-game win at Folsom, then the state's No. 3 team, but then was humbled ina 39-10 loss at De La Salle. This is the Padres final game before opening West Catholic Athletic League play in two weeks.

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Serra takes the field in its 2024 home opener against St. John Bosco, the nation's No. 2 team. 9/14/2024 / Photo: Dennis Lee

St. John Bosco was already battle tested coming in, with a win at nationally-ranked Florida power Chaminade-Madonna, 34-27, before wins over a West Texas squad Eastwood (71-14) and last week, 38-28, at Sierra Canyon.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES:

STATEWIDE CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

SOUTHERN SECTION SCORES | SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION SCORES

LOS ANGELES SECTION SCORES | SAN DIEGO SECTION SCORES

CENTRAL SECTION SCORES | CENTRAL COAST SECTION SCORES

NORTH COAST SECTION SCORES | NORTHERN SECTION SCORES

OAKLAND SECTION SCORES | SAN FRANCISCO SECTION SCORES

Follow along below for live updates once the game starts, with the kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT

(Refresh for the latest updates)

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES

FINAL SCORE, ST. JOHN BOSCO 56, SERRA 16: Bosco scores on seven consecutive possession, score on three plays over 60 yards in victory over Padres

Photo football
A big hit by sophomore defensive lineman Richard Orosco (40) on Nano Latu led to Serra having to setting for a field goal in the second quarter of St. John Bosco's 56-16 win at Freitas Field. / Photo: Dennis Lee

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! Serra drives 65 yards but Cole Clifton with easy pick and 88-yard return for touchdown. St. John Bosco 56, Serra 16. 9:56 4Q.

THIRD QUARTER UPDATES

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Serra senior tight end Clay Hinsdale had a 60-yard catch setting up a touchdown in the St. John Bosco's 56-16 win Friday at Freitas Field at Tom Brady Stadium on 9/14/2024 / Photo: Dennis Lee

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! What a squad. What a response. Freshman QB Koa Malau'ulu with 32 touchdown pass to another freshman, Darren Tubbs. St. John Bosco 49, Serra 16. 1:43 3Q.

TOUCHDOWN SERRA! Serra showing pride and courage coach Patrick Walsh had hoped with long drive, capped by 3-yard TD run from Nano Latu. St. John Bosco 42, Serra 16. 3:42 3Q.

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! The onslaught is on! Jeremy Lenore with 6-yard TD run. 8:45 3Q. St. John Bosco 42, Serra 10.

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Lot of hard hits on both sides as Dillon Davis (18) and Epi Sitanilei converge on Serra's Nano Latu (15) / Photo: Dennis Lee

TOUUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! Ashton Keys caps 6 play, 64-yard drive with 2-yard TD run. He did most of damage. St. John Bosco takes control, leading Serra 35-10. 10:24 3Q.

SECOND QUARTER UPDATES

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! This was remarkable one, hauled in by the remarkable Madden Williams with a 19-yard TD catch from Matai Fuiava to make it 28-10 Bosco with two seconds left in the second quarter. Williams had three TD catches last week in a 38-28 win over Siera Canyon. Halftime: St. John Bosco leads 28-10. Video below courtesy of FanVu.

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO: Matai Fuiava his second TD pass, 28-yard to freshman Darren Tubbs. Bosco leads 21-10, late second quarter.

FIELD GOAL SERRA. A 23-yard field goal by Brodie Smith cuts Bosco's lead to 14-10, midway through 2Q.

FIRST QUARTER UPDATES

TOUCHDOWN BOSCO! Another one-play drive for St. John Bosco: Matai Fuiava 65-yard touchdown bomb to Carson Clark. 1:10 1Q. St. John Bosco 14, Serra 7.

Photo football
St. John Bosco junior QB Matai Fuiava runs for a big gain in his team's 56-17 win at San Mateo Serra on 9/14/2024 / Photo: Dennis Lee

TOUCHDOWN SERRA. Another sophomore, Jeovanni Henley sweeps left for a 2-yard touchdown. Keyed by 60-yard completion from Andrew Heneghan to Clay Hinsdale. Serra 7, St. John Bosco 7. 1:22 left in 1Q.

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO: On second territory, Malik Allen 62-yard run, one play drive. 2:52. St. John Bosco 7, Serra 0. On first possession, Bosco drove to inside 5, but stopped on 4th and goal. Serra drove down field, held on downs and on first play, Allen, a sophomore, breaks loose.

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Mitch Stephens

MITCH STEPHENS