St. John Bosco vs. Mater Dei Preview
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The top two teams in the nation will play each other Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl. Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are the top two teams in the country according to MaxPreps, USA Today and CalPreps. St. John…
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Continue ReadingThe top two teams in the nation will play each other Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl.
Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are the top two teams in the country according to MaxPreps, USA Today and CalPreps.
St. John Bosco is the only team that has beaten Mater Dei since 2015. Mater Dei has not lost a game since November of 2019; the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game against St. John Bosco.
According to Scorebook Live, there are over 75 players in this game with at least one Division 1 offer.
Here is a look at the matchups and top players in this game:
QUARTERBACKS
Elijah Brown is 23-0 as the starting quarterback for Mater Dei, dating back to his freshman season. He has completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,376 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions this season. Brown was the sole reason Mater Dei was able to beat JSerra in a close 21-13 win last week.
Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA is a Louisville commit who has played very well this season but hasn’t been challenged much. He has 904 yards and 13 touchdowns but has gotten pulled early in games because of blowout scores.
In last season’s game, Clarkson threw for 233 yards and a touchdown. Brown threw for 263 yards and five touchdowns.
RUNNING BACKS
Mater Dei: Jordon Davison Jordon Davison 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , Ajon Bryant Ajon Bryant 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Nate Frazier Nate Frazier 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA
St. John Bosco: Cameron Jones Cameron Jones 6'2" | 220 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Chauncey Sylvester Chauncey Sylvester 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Khalil Warren Khalil Warren 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA
Jordon Davison Jordon Davison 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA had a nice game against St. John Bosco, but Bryant and Frazier were held dormant. On paper, this is the best running back trio I have ever seen, but I don’t know how healthy Bryant is right now.
Cameron Jones Cameron Jones 6'2" | 220 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA has been the top running back since transferring from Centennial. Chauncey Sylvester Chauncey Sylvester 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA has been playing well and making big plays in the passing game.
RECEIVERS
Mater Dei: Marcus Harris Marcus Harris 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , Jordan Onovughe Jordan Onovughe 6'0" | 195 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2023 State CA , Jack Ressler Jack Ressler 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Spencer Shannon Spencer Shannon 6'7" | 240 lbs | TE Mater Dei | 2023 State CA
St. John Bosco: DeAndre Moore DeAndre Moore 5'11" | 190 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Israel Polk Israel Polk 6'3" | 170 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Eric Denham Eric Denham 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Jahlil McClain Jahlil McClain 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA
Bosco has the edge here. Moore and McClain are committed to Louisville and Polk has been heating up since transferring from Pittsburg. Denham is a transfer from Centennial and has been playing well.
Harris had two huge touchdown catches for Mater Dei against JSerra. Onovughe is the senior who patiently waited his turn to play and is getting a lot of targets this season. Shannon is committed to Texas and only had one target against JSerra.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Mater Dei: DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter 6'5" | 350 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Brandon Baker Brandon Baker 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Sione Tohi Sione Tohi 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , BJ Tolo BJ Tolo 6'1" | 310 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2023 State CA , Lipe Moaia
St. John Bosco: Sean Na’a Sean Na’a 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , King Large King Large 6'5" | 295 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Mosiah Talanoa Mosiah Talanoa 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Sean Haney Sean Haney 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Puka Moe, Matai Jefferson Matai Jefferson 6'6" | 350 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA
Mater Dei has the edge on paper but I was surprised to see JSerra’s defense get pressure on Brown last week. Carter and Baker are the two top junior tackles in the state and they are on the same team. BJ Tolo BJ Tolo 6'1" | 310 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2023 State CA is the senior leader of the group and one of the better centers in the region.
Sean Na’a Sean Na’a 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA has been an incredible addition since transferring from Westlake. He was the best offensive lineman at the Allegiance camp this summer. Talanoa and Haney are big weight room guys and Large has been rising fast.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Mater Dei: Zeus Venegas Zeus Venegas 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Aydin Breland Aydin Breland 6'5" | 290 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Kaho Tuihalamaka Kaho Tuihalamaka 6'4" | 325 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Semi Taulanga
St. John Bosco: Matayo Uiagalelei Matayo Uiagalelei 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Vaka Hansen Vaka Hansen 6'2" | 305 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Jordan Lockhart Jordan Lockhart 6'3" | 220 lbs | ATH St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Sua Lefotu Sua Lefotu 6'5" | 290 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Dutch Horsick
I was on the field watching Mater Dei in pregame and Ayden Breland is the tallest and biggest defensive lineman I’ve seen at the high school level. Tuihalamaka is a wide body who is sneakily athletic.
Matayu Uiagalelei is the best uncommitted player in the class. Vaka Hansen Vaka Hansen 6'2" | 305 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA transferred from Servite and is excellent at drawing double teams. Lockhart is a physical specimen who is an edge rusher for the Braves but may be a linebacker at the next level. Lefotu is a Washington commit who is hard to move downfield.
LINEBACKERS
Mater Dei: Levi Sua Levi Sua 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2023 State CA , Nasir Wyatt Nasir Wyatt 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , Ramere Davis Ramere Davis 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Lucas Campitza
St. John Bosco: Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Deven Bryant Deven Bryant 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Sir Tyler Thomas
Wyatt was in the backfield constantly against JSerra and Sua was there to clean up the running game. Sua is one of my favorite linebackers in the class and Ramere Davis Ramere Davis 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA is a very good athlete.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA may be the best player in the junior class in California. Deven Bryant Deven Bryant 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA had a big game last season against Mater Dei.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Mater Dei: Daryus Dixson Daryus Dixson 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , Zabien Brown Zabien Brown 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Chuck McDonald III Chuck McDonald III 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , Jeilani Davis Jeilani Davis 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA
St. John Bosco: Ty Lee Ty Lee 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Aaron Williams Aaron Williams 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Tamai Johnson, Marcelles Williams Marcelles Williams 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Peyton Woodyard Peyton Woodyard 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Frankie Edwards III Frankie Edwards III 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Jshawn Frausto-Ramos Jshawn Frausto-Ramos 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , RJ Jones RJ Jones 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Hunter Nowell Hunter Nowell 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB St John Bosco | 2023 State CA
Bosco obviously has the depth and experience advantage here. This is their biggest advantage in the game. If they can prevent Mater Dei’s receivers from getting open, it will be hard for the Monarchs to move the ball. Woodyard and Williams are some of my favorite defensive backs in the area.