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St. John Bosco football upset by Orange Lutheran in Division 1 quarterfinals

November 15, 2025

St. John Bosco senior wide receiver Madden Williams dives into the end zone for a touchdown late in the game against Orange Lutheran in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 1 football playoffs in Bellflower on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

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BELLFLOWER — The St. John Bosco football team knew it had to turn the page after losing to Mater Dei and to lock in for the most important phase of the season, the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.

However, because of the rain, they had to adjust the team’s pass-heavy offense and rely on its running game in the pouring rain that soaked Southern California on Friday night.

Bosco ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries but two missed extra points, including one with 1:51 left in the game, in a 20-19 loss to Orange Lutheran in the Division 1 quarterfinals.

“The team that protects the football the best,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said before game, “and is able to run their offense as normal as possible is probably going to be the team that wins the ball game.”

St. John Bosco sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu’s 9-yard touchdown run put the Braves up 13-7 with 5:28 left in the third quarter. The PAT was no good.

Orange Lutheran scored the next 13 points. A 67-yard touchdown pass from Lancers junior quarterback Raegan Toki to junior receiver Nico Bland gave them a 14-13 lead with 10:44 left in the fourth quarter. The PAT was good.

Malau’ulu’s threw an interception that was hauled in and returned for a 45-yard touchdown by sophomore cornerback King Rich Johnson to put Orange Lutheran up 20-13 with 8:54 left in the fourth. The PAT was blocked.

With less than two minutes remaining, Bosco blocked Orange Lutheran’s punt. The ball was recovered by junior defensive back Dillon Davis at the Lancers 13.

Malau’ulu threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Madden Williams (Texas A&M commit), which made it 20-19 with 1:51 to go. However, Bosco’s PAT went wide right and was no good.

Orange Lutheran recovered Bosco’s onside kick, which bounced off several players, before the Lancers recovered.

Toki kneeled out the game, and secured the 20-19 victory, which was redemption for a 48-0 loss to Bosco on Oct. 10 in Trinity League play.

“The goal of the regular season is to help grow up you so that you can play your best football in the playoffs,” Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman said. “I told our guys (Friday), the goal is to get to the playoffs and yes were the the eight seed and they were the one seed but we got the playoffs, we got a 0-0 record as we get to the playoffs and I thought we played our best football.”

Bosco dropped to 9-2 overall. Malau’ulu led the Braves with two total touchdowns (one rushing, one passing) but only completed 10 of 22 passes for 73 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Orange Lutheran improved to 3-8 overall and will host Santa Margarita in the Division 1 semifinals on Friday, Nov. 21.

“You have to play physical no matter what the elements are,” Sherman said before the game. “You have to take care of the football. You have to win the turnover battle, whether the elements are good (or) bad.”

Bosco’s defense forced two turnovers in the first half, a fumble recovery by junior linebacker Josiah Poyer and an interception by senior defensive end Dutch Horisk stopped Orange Lutheran’s offense early.

The Braves capitalized on the second turnover with a short drive that began at the Lancers 24 and ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Corey Hinton with 51 seconds left in the first quarter. Bosco led 7-0.

Orange Lutheran’s defense responded and stopped Bosco’s offense at just outside the red zone midway through the second quarter. Braves senior kicker CJ Wallace missed a 41-yard field goal.

The Lancers used that momentum to go on an 80-yard scoring drive, with several key runs by senior running back Sean Morris Jr., who is committed to Northwestern, gained 109 yards rushing on 12 carries in the first half.

However, Toki’s 17-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Chris Flores Jr. that tied the game at 7 all with 37 seconds to go before halftime.

St. John Bosco football upset by Orange Lutheran in Division 1 quarterfinals Orange County Register

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