St. John Bosco football holds off Sierra Canyon’s comeback attempts

CHATSWORTH — The Sierra Canyon football team showed flashes of its full potential when the lights were shining brightest on a Saturday evening showdown with St. John Bosco, the No. 3-ranked team in the country.

The Trailblazers flinched early but didn’t run away as the defense went to work against a skilled St. John Bosco offense. The Braves handed Sierra Canyon its second loss of the season, 38-28.

“We came out a little slow in the beginning,” receiver and defensive back Jae’on Young said. “In the second half, we played with them how we know we can play with them, but we just came up short.”

Sierra Canyon heads into a bye week before playing Orange Lutheran on Saturday, Sept. 21. The Trailblazers have one of the toughest schedules in Southern California football.

“I thought we were the better team,” coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “I thought we could win the game. I’m never going to feel differently. We just lost to the No. 3 team in the country and we’ve got the No. 5 team in the country coming down the road. We’ve got more opportunities to prove ourselves.”

The Trailblazers gave up 17 points in the first half but came out of halftime with renewed energy and a threatening pass rush. They forced the Braves to a turnover on downs before scoring to come within three points of tying the game.

Wyatt Becker launched a 32-yard pass to Young, who was waiting just outside the end zone. De’Markus Barnes punched it in from a yard out and Bosco led 17-14.

Sierra Canyon was without starting running back Dane Dunn, who was injured on a scoring play in the prior week’s win over Oaks Christian. There was little drop-off as the Trailblazers relied on multiple running backs throughout Saturday’s game.

The secondary matched up well with the Braves’ offense all night, which kept Sierra Canyon in the game.

“I felt we did really good as a secondary,” Young said. “It was a communication issue that we’ve got to go back to the drawing board and fix. At the end of the day, some of their receivers made some really good catches.”

Young intercepted Bosco quarterback Matai Fuiava at the 25-yard line and returned it for a touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter for some much-needed momentum and bring the score to 17-7.

The Trailblazers, dressed in all-black uniforms, forced two more turnovers on downs later in the quarter — the second of which was caused by back-to-back pass breakups by Madden Riordan and Young.

Riordan had an interception with less than a minute to go in the third quarter and Sierra Canyon was able to score on the ensuing drive on a 25-yard run by Jaxsen Stokes.

Fuiava and Madden Williams connected for two touchdowns in the first quarter to give St. John Bosco a strong start.

“In my eyes, (Williams) wasn’t that difficult to cover,” Young said. “I got to match up with him in man. Especially in vertical, he didn’t have any catches on me in man. But they kept hitting those soft spots.”

Williams hauled in a pass for a 21-yard gain, then Fuiava pitched the ball to him for a 2-yard touchdown with 7:34 left in the first quarter.

KJ Wallace hit a 23-yard field goal two minutes into the second frame and the Braves took a 17-0 lead.

An Ashton Zamani punt combined with a penalty had kept the Braves pinned within the 10-yard line, but it didn’t stop Fuiava from reaching Williams for a 96-yard touchdown with 2:14 on the clock.

Freshman quarterback Koa Malau’ulu and Williams also scored late in the fourth quarter to make it 31-21 before Maliq Allen scored a rushing touchdown.

Becker hit Massiah Mingo with an 8-yard strike to finish out the game.

“I’m proud of the way my kids fought,” Ellinghouse said. “I’m sure it’ll be another story about how we’re on this stage and Division 1 and what have you, but I thought we could have and should have won the game.

“I’m proud of the way the kids fought and they did a great job and I’m ready to win one of these.”