Standing in the midst of his dwelling discipline on Friday night time, St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro revealed that historical past was about to be made for his workforce’s Trinity League opener in opposition to Orange Lutheran.
“Twenty-two years of coaching, I’ve never started a freshman at quarterback,” he mentioned.
Koa Malau’ulu, the son of former Carson and Arizona quarterback George Malau’ulu, acquired his “baptism by fire” in his first begin due to an harm to Matai Fuiava. He accomplished three of 9 passes for 45 yards within the first half. The Braves went scoreless.
Then one thing extraordinary occurred. In a second half that was nearly as good and as thrilling as anybody might ever ask for, Malau’ulu accomplished 20 of twenty-two passes, together with 4 landing throws, to rally St. John Bosco to a 28-24 victory over the Lancers in a sport that featured 5 lead modifications over the ultimate 24 minutes. He completed with 270 yards passing with one interception.
“He played one of the best quarterback performances in the second half we’ve ever had here,” Negro mentioned.
Freshman quarterback Koa Malau’ulu was 20 of twenty-two passing in second half for 4 touchdowns for St. John Bosco.
(Craig Weston)
Stated Malau’ulu: “I felt great. Got support from my teammates. I was down and they picked me up.”
Carson Clark helped Malau’ulu with 10 receptions within the second half, together with the profitable 22-yard landing catch with 50 seconds left. Madden Williams had landing receptions of 9 and 27 yards. It was an uncommon comeback engineered by Malau’ulu contemplating there was nearly no operating sport by the Braves (6-0).
These groups are throwing haymakers. Madden Williams places Bosco again on prime 21-17. 8:33 left. The freshman QB Malau’ulu is hitting and hitting. pic.twitter.com/kxgdoJrhSC
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) October 5, 2024
Orange Lutheran pulled out all its trick performs — there have been 4 — and got here means with a 10-0 halftime lead. The largest got here within the second quarter. On fourth and one, quarterback TJ Lateef all of a sudden got here underneath the middle as an alternative of being in shotgun formation. Everybody thought it will be quarterback sneak. Lateef bought the snap, hid the ball and located an uncovered AJ Ia for a 30-yard landing move.
Lateef, a Nebraska commit, was 14 of 18 passing for 115 yards within the first half because the Lancers used up massive chunks of clock to maintain St. John Bosco’s offense off the sphere.
“I thought what they did with their tempo was impressive,” Negro mentioned.
Lateef completed 24 of 34 for 209 yards, with two landing passes to Ia. He additionally rushed for 80 yards however was sacked by Brandon Nash on the sport’s closing play when he tried to finish a profitable landing move from the St. John Bosco 40 as time expired. Steve Chavez rushed for 127 yards.
Ia is Malau’ulu’s cousin and was impressed.
“That’s my dog,” he mentioned of the 15-year-old freshman. “He’s improved.”
The sport’s competitiveness got here as no shock. It was occurring throughout the Southland in two different Trinity League video games. Coaches have mentioned from prime to backside, the six-team league has by no means been higher, and it was mirrored within the outcomes. Servite handed JSerra its first defeat, 20-7. Mater Dei defeated Santa Margarita 40-18 after main at halftime 16-10.
“It was a tough game,” Ia mentioned. “Everyone played well. We all played hard.”
