Football: First-year private-school coaches get big wins
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The alumni expect victories, especially from first-year coaches supposedly hired for big bucks, and three rookie private-school coaches came away Friday with important victories to give their fans something to get excited about.
Encino Crespi (4-1), under Coach Jon Mack, upset No. 8-ranked Vista Murrieta, 45-31. Quarterback Kenny Stenhouse completed 27 of 33 passes for 486 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. He also scored a touchdown. Devin Lucien caught eight passes for 184 yards and three TDs.
Bellflower St. John Bosco (4-1), under Coach Jason Negro, pounded La Habra, 35-17, with running back Martin Brown rushing for 298 yards in 23 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Maybe the Braves will be a factor in the Trinity League after all.
Los Angeles Loyola (2-3), under Coach Mike Christensen, rallied for a 30-13 victory over Upland despite not having quarterback Jerry Neuheisel (concussion). Tyler McBride rushed for 165 yards.
It’s only natural that teams under new coaches get better as the season progresses, and all three schools appear headed in that direction.
-- Eric Sondheimer