St John Bosco High School - Brave Yearbook (Bellflower, CA)

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16 Varsity Football

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LUCK Leaves Braves Lose Coin Toss and Playoff Berth After nine games and countless hours of practice and sacrifice, the Braves' playoff hopes ended with the flip of a coin, The Varsity had tied Crespi and Notre Dame for third in the Del Rey League and had luck disappear when Notre Dame, a team Bosco had beaten, won the toss and the right to enter the playoffs. This spoiled the chance for new coach Mike Thomas to lead the Braves to the playoffs in his first year as head Coach. Coach Thomas came over from St. Anthony and new coaches Bill Yurak, Pat Donahue, and Ed Riley also joined the '78 crew. The entire staff emphasized a discipline that lead to fewer penalties and injuries. The strong point of the team was its outstanding defense. The defensive squad was anchored by seven returning starters: Chris Topps, Bill Murphy, Steve Goldschmied, Dave Wehrley, Steve Pascale, Dan Fitzgerald, and Dave Lira. Of these seven, three received first team all league honors. This fine unit kept the Braves in almost every game. The offense was another story as the only returning starters were fullback Ed McGinn, tackle John Carroll, and split end Juan Escandon. The offense was headed by quarterback Willie Howard and tailback Scott Duarte, both sophomores. The team was aided offensively by soccer-style kicker Joe Guzman, who had a 47 yard field goal to his credit. The Braves finished with a 2-3 record in league and 4-5 overall, 1, Larry Fernandez eyes the action during the Muir game, 2. Coach Thomas gets ready to send in the play with Juan Escandon. 3. Holder Ray Chavez and kicker Joe Guzman work on their specialty. 4. Half time at Muir. 5. Gufsy Ed McGinn dives to a first down. T Varsity Football 15

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1978 Braves Topps Wehrly Gam Top Hon rs Sensors Chns Topps and Dave Wehrly had out afandzng years for the Braves T was named lAk1Souih Coast Lsnebacker and of the Var arty Wehrly was named All League on both offense and defense Undersfancfably he also was named Iron Man ofthe team League Farsi Team Juan Escandon WR Dave Wehrly C DE Ghz-as Topps LB Steve Geldschmred DB All League Second Team Tom Engle G Hchard Selva DB QQ raglg Mentlgn Ed Mctimn RB Curt Granger DB Team Awards Most Vatuable Chris Topps iron Man Dave Wehrly Coaches Award Rrck Snhra Back of Year Steve Goidschmred Lmeman of Year Tom Engle insprratronal Ed McGmn Scout Team Larry Fernandez Improved Ray Chavez Q78 Results ante Fe Mornungssde Muir L B Poly Crespr Loyola Notre Dame St Anthony .bu IXJ-4 WNOOD-BONJON SJB Si Francas 7 All Leaguers Chris Topps and Dave Wehrly flatten the ball earner 2 All League Juan Essendon leaps forthe ball 3 Soph QB Vwllre Howard has lame ro set up 4 THE 18 BRAVES Row 1 L Gfudfchak R Chavez E McG1nn R Schlosser L Linder J Moreno L Nason E Teran Row2 D Lira R Bazzano B Collrns P Russo J Bryson J Laughlin D Gerard: L Fernan dez ROW3 G Papillon R Sllva J Escandon M Ellis D Mur phy S Duarte J Oetken C Granger Fl Washlnglon V Paredes H Prukop Row4 F? Engles T Noble J McDonald M Howard W Asa S Pantuso C Klefn C Wrruckl J Melan con W Howard D Wehrly Row 5 S Pascale D Fitzgerald B Murphy J Carroll S Goldschmred C Topps T Engle M Samson 5 Soph runnmg back Scott Duarte has room fo run , oo,l L ,,e, K , t 5 .. Ve V,lY ,, r,r, lV,w I ,i,, ,l g, ,V g ,L ,x w, Y V J 4, oisrgcowog n' V l ' I V' - L ll 1 I , I , I. , N- , h V H. if r ' 'V 1, - . I I . :I V Varsity Football 17