St. John Bosco rises to top in showdown

Malau’ulu throws four touchdown passes as Braves beat Eagles in battle for first place.

- By Eric SONDHEIMER

MADDEN WILLIAMS of St. John Bosco leaps to haul in a touchdown pass, one of his six catches in a 27-14 victory on Friday night.

(CRAIG WESTON For The Times)

Koa Malau’ulu, the sophomore quarterback for unbeaten St. John Bosco High, was having almost as good a Friday night as Shohei Ohtani hitting three home runs at Dodger Stadium.

Malau’ulu completed his first 1 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns against a Santa Margarita defense that held Mater Dei to six points last week.

This was supposed to be a showdown for first place in the nation’s toughest football league, the Trinity League, but Santa Margarita didn’t have the offensive firepower to stay with the Braves, whose quarterback, all-star receivers and underrated offensive line executed to deliver an eighth consecutive victory with a 27-14 triumph over the Eagles.

Malau’ulu finished 16-of-21 passing for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Each of his talented four receivers caught a touchdown pass.