The Brave News

by Michael Barba

The Braves are in hot pursuit of another victory against their next Trinity League opponent, the Santa Margarita Eagles, in their last game of the 22-23 regular season before heading into the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs, where they will likely meet familiar foes such as The Mater Dei Monarchs. However, the 8-1 Braves have preserved their lethal and hardworking mindset for the 6-3 Eagles, and plan to make a statement against the Eagles prior to beginning the post season.

Within the history of the Bosco Braves vs Santa Margarita Eagles, the Braves have been the perennial favorite, usually coming out on top, often in dominant fashion. The Eagles have always played with house money, using relentlessness and trickery to try and shock the Braves – but in recent years, that has yielded lopsided loses and dominant wins for the Braves. Both teams have faced nothing less than the toughest competition, but with the hard work Bosco Football has put in this season, there is no doubt the Braves will come out on top.

“It’s the preparation, every week the team comes out ready to play and the coaches come out ready with a great game plan. We prepare all week by putting in the work and it is going to show on Friday night so I just feel like it’s just gonna be one of those nights which it has been for the last times we have played them,” said Senior Quarterback Pierce Clarkson. “The thing that has been different was that our energy has been higher as a team and I really feel like it is going to elevate our play tomorrow night.”

The last contest held between both teams ended in a 41-16 win for the Braves, but both teams have upgraded their game since then. As the 22-23 season concludes, the stats both teams have put up this season are proof of the advances made in offense and defense. 

Some of the most impressive stats from the Braves this season are 110 passes completed, 54 touchdowns, 748 tackles and seven interceptions. The Eagles currently have completed 193 passes, scored 40 touchdowns and recorded 561 tackles and four interceptions. The stats both the Braves and the Eagles have produced are some of the best in the country which hopefully will lead to a competitive match-up this Friday.

Although the Braves have been able to dominate almost any team put in front of them, they still treat any team with the respect and energy that they would treat their biggest rivals with. One of keys to the dominance of the Braves is not just the brotherhood but as well as the ability to not underestimate their opponent, which will be one of the reasons the Braves will not disappoint this Friday.

“We worry about everybody, that is when things go wrong, you start overlooking people by looking ahead, but we try taking it one game at a time. We will treat Santa Margarita just like how we treat every other opponent, by preparing and practicing as hard as we can so we can come out victorious” said Coach Lacy.

As the regular season closes, Bosco Football made sure to put up a show last Friday against the Orange Lutheran Lancers. Hundreds of seats were filled at the Panish Family Stadium to watch the Braves dominate the Lancers, and the game ended in a 48-7 blowout victory for the Braves, who recorded the lopsided stat line of eleven completed passes, seven touchdowns, 41 tackles, and a single interception. 

It was truly a magical night for the Braves and they are ready to put on another magic show up this Friday against the Santa Margarita Eagles, inside of Panish Family Stadium at 7:00 p.m.