There will be no shortage of talent when Bishop Gorman and California high school football powerhouse St. John Bosco face off on Friday.
The programs are the two top teams in the country, with St. John Bosco entering the national showdown ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps and the Gaels ranked No. 2. The two teams face off at 7 p.m. Friday at Gorman’s Fertitta Field and the game will be streamed nationally by MaxPreps.
Each team is loaded with Division I college prospects on both sides of the ball. In what is being called the high school football national championship game, Gorman and St. John Bosco will lean on their stars on Friday night.
Here is a look at 10 players to watch in Friday’s game who will impact the matchup.
Bishop Gorman
Ace Amina and Chance Thomas, QB
Gorman is keeping its cards close to its vest as to its quarterback plans for Friday’s matchup, but it’s possible both Amina and Thomas could play against St. John Bosco. Amina started against Losee, but he and Thomas alternated possessions in one half.
The two quarterbacks were perfect in their short time on the field against Losee, with Amina throwing a touchdown and Thomas rushing for a score. Thomas, a dual-threat quarterback, and Amina, with a big arm like past Gorman quarterbacks Micah Alejado and Maika Eugenio, bring their own skill sets that will present challenges for St. John Bosco.
Tayaun Lawrence, DL
Lawrence is a four-star recruit rated as Nevada’s second-ranked class of 2028 recruit by 247Sports. Earlier this month, Lawrence released his top five college list with Ohio State, Oregon, Nebraska, Georgia Tech and Cal on his list. Lawrence is one of the top returners on Gorman’s defensive line, where he will play as a defensive end this season. Lawrence had 25 tackles, nine for loss, and three sacks last year.
Zyren Menor, WR
Menor made an impression as a sophomore last year and enters his junior year as Gorman’s top wide receiver. Menor is a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Nevada’s top class of 2028 recruit with Notre Dame, USC, Oregon, Miami and Texas A&M among his notable offers. Menor, listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds, had 22 catches for 577 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.
Hayden Stepp, DB
Stepp is one of the top defensive backs in the country. Stepp is a four-star recruit who committed to Oregon this summer as Nevada’s top class of 2027 recruit by 247Sports. Stepp, listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, leads a stacked Gorman defensive backs room alongside Cal commit Kamil Loud and UNLV commit Azavier McDaniel.
St. John Bosco
Koa Malau’ulu, QB
The junior is entering his third season as St. John Bosco’s starting quarterback. He threw for 2,361 yards on a 66.2 percent completion percentage for 33 touchdowns to just five interceptions as a sophomore last year. He’s thrown for 4,173 yards and 52 touchdowns in his high school career. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Malau’ulu is a three-star recruit by 247Sports with notable offers from Michigan, Oregon and Texas Tech.
Elisha Mueller, OL
The Braves have three returning starters on the offensive line and Mueller is one of them. Mueller, listed at 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, will be a four-year starter for the Braves as he begins his senior season. He is a four-star recruit by 247Sports with 23 Division I offers, such as Alabama, Miami, Ohio State and Oregon among notable offers.
Josiah Poyer, LB
Poyner is one of the anchors on St. John Bosco’s defense. Poyner, listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, is committed to USC and a three-star prospect. Last year as a junior, he recorded 54 tackles, including 10 for loss and seven sacks. He has 121 total tackles in his high school career.
DJ Tubbs, WR
St. John Bosco’s top three receivers last year have all graduated. Now, Tubbs, a junior, enters as the Braves’ top receiver. Tubbs had 28 catches for 493 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He is a three-star recruit with 15 Division I offers, including Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington.
Isala Aisa Wily-Ava, DB
Gorman’s offense isn’t afraid to air it out, which will make Wily-Ava’s job in St. John Bosco’s secondary very important. A 6-foot-3, 198-pound safety, Wily-Ava is a multi-year starter for the Braves. He recorded 40 tackles and an interception as a junior last year and had seven interceptions in his sophomore year. Wily-Ava is a three-star recruit and committed to Washington.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
Up next
Who: No. 1 St. John Bosco (California) vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Gorman’s Fertitta Field
Stream: MaxPreps’ website and YouTube channel
All-time series: Bishop Gorman 2-0 (34-31 in 2014 and 35-20 in 2016).
