NORWALK – Quarterback Re-al Mitchell orchestrated an explosive St. John Bosco attack as the Braves cruised to a dominating 70-6 victory over Servite in its Trinity League opener Friday evening at Cerritos College.
Coming off a bye week, Mitchell, a junior, was masterful as he threw three touchdown passes and rushed for a TD and St. John Bosco defeated the Friars for the fifth consecutive time.
The Braves, the four-time defending Trinity League champion and the second-ranked team in the state, are averaging more than 40 points per game.
“I like the way our team is focused,” said Braves coach Jason Negro. “They’re hungry and I like the way they haven’t gotten complacent.”
The Braves (5-1, 1-0) took the opening kickoff and marched 60 yards in five plays to take a 7-0 lead. Mitchell completed three passes on the drive and Demetrious Flowers (109 yards rushing) capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
A miscue on the ensuing Friars possession proved costly for Servite (3-3, 0-1). Malik Street grabbed a deflected Tyler Lytle pass and raced 39 yards for a TD and upped the Braves’ lead to 14-0.
Three plays following a Servite field goal, Mitchell tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jovohn Tucker and increased the lead to 21-3.
The Braves’ scoring onslaught continued in the second quarter as they added four touchdowns to take a commanding 49-3 halftime lead.
On the first play of the quarter, Mitchell scored on a 10-yard run. Moments later, following a 50-yard punt return by Berkeley Holman to the Servite 11, Mitchell threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Bonds.
The Braves special teams got into the action as Cross Poyer blocked a Friars punt, picked up the loose ball and bolted 18 yards into the end zone, giving St. John Bosco a 42-3 lead.
The Braves drove 93 yards in eight plays late in the quarter to push its lead to 49-3. Adrian Ochoa capped the drive with an 11-yard TD run.
St. John Bosco rushed for 197 yards in the opening half and outgained the Friars 319-136 in the first half.
Asa Fuller kicked field goals of 48 and 32 yards to account for the Friars points.