Football: Orange Lutheran coach is best to evaluate St. John Bosco-Centennial matchup

If anyone should know who’s going to win Saturday’s Pac-5 Division final between unbeaten St. John Bosco and unbeaten Corona Centennial, it should be Orange Lutheran Coach Chuck Petersen, whose team lost twice to Centennial this season and lost once to St. John Bosco. The Lancers were the only team this season to prevent St. John Bosco from having a running clock.

So who do you got, Coach Petersen?

“I think it’s really equal,” he said. “Centennial is better now than they were earlier in the year, which is scary. I think it will come down to turnovers. I like both running backs. I’ll take Sean McGrew and I’ll take JJ Taylor. They’re different but have shown at the highest level, they can excel.

“I think the quarterback run game for Centennial is different and that could be a difference. They have to account for [Anthony] Catalano. It will be interesting with the Bosco kids up front how they handle the big splits that Centennial uses.

“It’s going to be a great game. I go back to a year ago. Bosco is better. Centennial is much better because of its defense.”

The winner should advance to play De La Salle on Dec. 19 in Sacramento. Petersen’s team also played De La Salle and lost.

“Because it’s in Sacramento, De La Salle will have an advantage,” he said. “I still think either one of our guys will beat De La Salle.”

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