Rosamond Rally Catches St. Bonaventure

VENTURA —  St. Bonaventure High Coach Jon Mack might refer to it later as the one that got away.

Just when it looked like his Mack attack would capture its fourth consecutive victory, St. Bonaventure’s productive offense stalled and its defense broke down, allowing Rosamond to earn a 37-31 come-from-behind victory in a nonleague game Thursday at Ventura High.

St. Bonaventure (3-1) set the pace, owning a 15-point lead in the second quarter and a a 23-15 lead in the third.

But it was Rosamond that had the last say.

The Seraphs took their third lead, 31-23, on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Teohua Sanchez to Pepe Villasenor on the first play of the fourth quarter.

But Rosamond (3-1) answered on the ensuing possession, driving 62 yards in seven plays, capped by a six-yard run by Jamar Day. The conversion pass was broken up by Patrick Devericks and St. Bonaventure managed to cling to a 31-29 lead with 8 minutes 29 seconds left.

But the Seraphs did little with their next two possessions, turning the ball over on downs both times.

After Sanchez overthrew Villasenor (eight catches for 85 yards) on fourth and 19, Rosamond took over at the Seraphs’ 49. The Roadrunners, led by Day’s 41 yards in six carries on the drive, scored the go-ahead touchdown on a three-yard run by Day, giving Rosamond its first lead. After Mario Varela’s conversion pass to Kenny Grieco, Rosamond led, 37-31, with 4:03 remaining.

Despite the Seraphs’ breakdown, Day, who had rushed for 263 yards against St. Bonaventure in Rosamond’s 28-19 victory last year, was impressed.

“They were bigger, stronger and faster than last year,” said Day, who rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns in 26 carries. “And some of them even outplayed us. That’s probably the toughest team we played all year.”

St. Bonaventure started the game with an impressive 18-play, 81-yard drive on the game’s opening possession and scored on Topi Sanchez’s four-yard run. Teohua Sanchez, his brother, completed seven of 10 passes for 47 yards on the drive, including a 21-yard pass play to Joe Byrum to set up Topi’s touchdown.

Topi Sanchez gained 144 yards and scored twice in 25 carries. Teohua Sanchez completed 16 of 31 for 170 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

The brothers combined for 314 of the team’s 334 yards.

The Seraphs took a 15-0 lead on their next possession on a 34-yard pass play from Sanchez to Byrum.