Max Bowers' three touchdowns lead St. John the Baptist football over Holy Trinity
St. John the Baptist uarterback Maxwell Bowers runs the ball in for the touchdown during a CHSFL game against host Holy Trinity on Saturday. Credit: Dawn McCormick
First there was glory. Then there was an exodus. And now, maybe a renaissance.
St. John the Baptist won a CHSFL title for the first time in a decade last season when it came on late to capture the AA-I crown. Months later, 31 of those Cougars graduated and appeared to set the program on a rebuilding track. But if Saturday afternoon was anything to judge by, St. John's may be in for another round of success in 2024.
A slew of different Cougars made big plays, their powerful line owned the line of scrimmage and they got four big takeaways in rolling to a 40-15 CHSFL win over host Holy Trinity. St. John the Baptist rebounded from a season-opening one-point loss by scoring the first 26 points en route to the victory.
“We had gaps to fill and we knew people would have to step up to do it,” senior Brayden Mangan said. “There was a lot of hard work and people did it.”
SJB had a constellation of stars in this one, but none might have shone brighter than quarterback Max Bowers and defensive back Mangan. Bowers rushed17 times for 122 yards and touchdowns of 2 and 40 yards and was 8-for-15 passing for 114 yards and an 11-yard touchdown to Mangan. Mangan also had a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.
“Max may be the best high school team leader I’ve seen,” Cougars coach Phil Alba said.
“I feel you have to lead by example and that starts with being a part of the teamwork,” Bowers said.
And speaking of teamwork there was the play of the offensive linemen Brandon Moloney, Julian Vitucci, Logan Asbell, William Klein-Varnot and Kyle Cahill. They poured the foundation for everything the Cougars did well on offense.
“We say we operate in the shadows, doing work when no one sees it,” Vitucci said.
“No line – no shine,” Bowers added.
The line averages 268 pounds across.
“We knew we were starting with a clean slate after losing all those guys,” Vitucci said. “This team has to develop its own personality.”
SJB’s strategy was to use long possessions to keep the ball away from the Titans' explosive skill position players. But, it turned the game with quick strikes off Holy Trinity turnovers.
The Cougars built a 12-0 lead on touchdown runs by Luka Skoda and Bowers and kicked off with 1:14 left in the half. Mangan intercepted Josiah Patrick's pass on the next play and returned it 28 yards for a score and a 19-0 lead.
On the first play of the second half, Cougar Michael Murphy pulled down an interception and returned it 35 yards to the Titans’ 11. Two snaps later, Mangan snagged Bowers’ 11-yard TD strike for a 26-0 margin.
“The two interceptions were really the back-breakers,” Alba said. “Those changed the arc of the game.”
Cougars linebacker Jovan Bonilla had a fumble recovery and two tackles for a loss and Murphy also forced a fumble.
Patrick was 15-for-20 passing for 96 yards, two touchdowns and the two interceptions for Holy Trinity (0-2). His scoring passes went 24 yards to Jayden Simpson and 3 yards to Chase Cruz.
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
