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VENTURA — There was a feeling this year’s edition of Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure would be different than last year. The Lions came into Friday night’s game – once again – led by a crop of highly-touted recruits like running back Johnny Thompson, wideout Justice Williams, and Luke Baklenko, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman headed to Stanford.
There’s also defensive back Jalen Lewis along with linebackers Christian Knoos and Michael Erhart — all sure picks to play big time football on Saturdays.
That feeling was wrong. It was like déjà vu …
For the second straight year, the best player on the field was St. Bonaventure running back Delon Thompson, an unranked, under-recruited tailback who ran for 230 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries in the Seraphs’ 40-28 win over Oaks Christian at Ventura College to win the program’s second straight Marmonte League title.
“We came into this game a big underdog. We knew that everyone thought Oaks was going to win,” Delon Thompson said. “We felt like we had nothing to lose.”
Thompson ran for 157 yards and two scores in last year’s 34-13 win over the Lions. The senior is now up to 2,231 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns this season, doubling his 1,078 yards gained as a junior. Despite all the productivity, Thompson said he’s yet to receive a scholarship offer.
“The interest has picked up,” Thompson said of his recruitment in the last year. “I’m talking to coaches every week. That’s nice. But still no offers.”
The 12-point difference when the clock hit zeroes makes the game seem like it was close. It wasn’t.
Oaks Christian (7-3) looked aloof, indifferent, and careless. The Lions turned the ball over on its second and third possession of the game, which helped St. Bonaventure mount a quick 21-0 lead. Oaks Christian turned the ball over four times Friday night and lost defensive end Dylan Hampsten to injury just before halftime.
Oaks Christian players look on as Saint Bonaventure pulls ahead during Marmonte League action October 27, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
“We knew that if we hit (Oaks Christian) in the mouth early they would fold like they did,” Thompson said.
Johnny Thompson, who scored two touchdowns in the game, found his way into the end zone in the second quarter to make it 21-7 at halftime, but the Lions fumbled the opening kickoff return to set up St. Bonaventure (7-3) with great field position to score and make it 28-7 with more than 10 minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Seraphs scored on their fifth straight possession to make it 34-14 before another Oaks Christian turnover. The game was over. Delon Thompson’s backfield mate Koen Glover also scored two rushing touchdowns.
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It’s no secret what St. Bonaventure wants to do with the ball, yet most teams can’t stop it. Delon Thompson has rushed for 236, 369, 248, 276, 208 and 257 yards against quality opponents this season before Friday night.
“I have to credit my offensive line, they’re amazing,” Thompson said. “But even if the defense knows where I’m going, they still have to tackle me.”
St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian will now await Sunday morning’s (10 a.m.) release of the CIF Southern Section playoff pairings where teams will learn which division they’ll compete in. According to Calpreps.com, it’s likely both will be placed into Division 2. Brackets can be viewed at CIFSS.org.
Delon Thompson does it again. Last year he rushed for 157 yards and two TDs in a win. Tonight, in the same game, with a league title on line, he rushed for 230 yards and three TDs to anchor a dominating 40-28 St. Bonaventure victory over Oaks Christian. pic.twitter.com/B4j5uNx8w2
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) October 28, 2022