Column: St. John Bosco clinches league title with 49-26 win over Servite

It’s time to recognize how dominant Bellflower St. John Bosco (8-1, 4-0) has become as a football program.

Playing in perhaps the toughest league in America, the Trinity League, the Braves clinched their third consecutive league title Friday night, grinding out a 49-26 victory over Anaheim Servite at Cerritos College. They have a 15-game league winning streak dating to 2011.

Yes, St. John Bosco has the most dynamic one-two offensive punch in Southern California with quarterback Josh Rosen and running back Sean McGrew. Rosen completed 10 of 15 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns. McGrew had touchdown runs of 70 and two yards and caught a 39-yard screen pass for another touchdown, all in the second half. He finished with 122 yards rushing in 14 carries.

But the story of this year’s team is the growth and development of the no-name players who took over for last season’s all-star cast that went 16-0.

On the offensive line, sophomores Wyatt Davis (6- feet 4, 295 pounds) and Ben Holmes (6-4, 310) are on their way to becoming standouts and college prospects. Combined with seniors Matt Katnik and Zach Robertson and junior center Tank Smith, the line is starting to look a lot like last year’s powerful unit.

Receivers Anselem Umeh, Kaylin Franklin and Joey Chenoweth are beginning to make big catches in pressure situations.

On defense, sophomore defensive end Jacob Callier is starting to create havoc. The cornerbacks, juniors Traveon Beck and Mykal Tolliver, are picking up the swagger and confidence displayed by last year’s dominant secondary personnel. Beck had a 43-yard interception return.

Servite (4-5, 1-3) pulled to within 24-20 with 3:20 left in the third quarter on a Travis Waller four-yard touchdown run. That only caused the Braves to go into high gear on offense. Big plays by McGrew and power running by Clifford Simms (130 yards rushing) left the Friars reeling. St. John Bosco put together a four-touchdown barrage.

The big-name quarterbacks came through with top performances in the first half. The Oregon-bound Waller had a 66-yard touchdown run on Servite’s opening possession. The UCLA-bound Rosen completed touchdown passes of 30 yards to Umeh and 35 yards to Chenoweth. Waller had a three-yard touchdown pass to Joe Ferraro.

St. John Bosco led at halftime, 17-14. Waller’s passing options were limited because top receivers Equanimeous St. Brown and Terrell Bynum were both sidelined with injuries. He finished with 140 yards rushing.

The Trinity League playoff picture for the Pac-5 Division became clearer. St. John Bosco goes as the No. 1 team. JSerra (8-1, 3-1) will go as the No. 2 team. Mater Dei’s 19-14 win over Santa Margarita puts the Monarchs (7-2, 2-2) in position to finish third. Santa Margarita (6-3, 2-2) and Servite will be trying for at-large spots.