St. Bonaventure starts with dominating win
Quarterback stars in rout of Garfield
By Jeffrey Dransfeldt
Friday, August 24, 2012
LOS ANGELES — Fan after fan approached Ricky Town after St. Bonaventure High's game Friday
night asking to take a photo with the Seraphs quarterback.
Spectators had reason to be enamored with the 6-foot-4, 190 pound sophomore following St.
Bonaventure's 48-0 season-opening win over host Garfield High.
Town is getting accustomed to the high expectations that goes with being the starting quarterback
for the highly successful program. The sophomore delivered in his first start, completing 10 of 11
passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.
"I had butterflies in the beginning, but we have a great team so I knew that we were going to take
care of it," Town said.
It helps that Town has a number of options, whether it's on the ground with running back Zachary
Green or through the air with tight end Bryce Dixon and wide receiver Nicholas Rodriguez.
"It's definitely a good feeling to know that we have different options," Town said. "We're not a onesided team. We can pass the ball, run the ball."
St. Bonaventure made its presence felt right from the start.
After a 14-yard catch by Richard Lucero moved St. Bonaventure into Garfield territory, Dixon caught
a pass across the middle and spun outside. He ran 43 yards up the left sideline for a 7-0 Seraphs
lead.
St. Bonaventure's defense made its presence felt on Garfield's first possession.
Michael Baham intercepted a pass on the Seraphs' 48-yard line and took it all the way to Garfield's
8-yard line. Two plays later, Green carried a pile of defenders 6 yards into the end zone for a 14-0
St. Bonaventure lead.
St. Bonaventure forced Garfield into a three-and-out on its next possession, but in one of the
Seraphs' few miscues, they mishandled the punt return and fumbled it right back.
Garfield was unable to take advantage and St. Bonaventure continued to expand its advantage in
the second quarter.
Town found Rodriguez down the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown catch and a 21-0 Seraphs
lead.
Garfield quarterback Joshua Mendoza then proceeded to throw an interception on the second play
of the Bulldogs' next drive. Davontae Nunnery took the pick, danced past some approaching
defenders and ran 50 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown.
Rodriguez capped the first half scoring when he caught a pass from Town over the middle and ran
21 yards untouched into the end zone for a 35-0 Seraphs halftime lead.
Garfield never threatened in the second half.
Green, who rushed for 90 yards on nine carries, said he was expecting this type of performance out
of the Seraphs. Green had a 52-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
"We've worked hard," he said. "We've put in our time. The defense came out and they were
spectacular."
Paul Thompson picked off a pass in the third quarter and returned it 20 yards for a Seraphs
touchdown.
St. Bonaventure was playing without head coach Todd Therrien, who was serving a one-game
suspension. The Seraphs didn't miss a beat in his absence.
"I'm extremely happy with my team," Green said.
St. Bonaventure will get a stronger test next week when it hosts Centennial at Moorpark College.
"It was really important," Town said of starting the season off well. "It gets some morale. It gets some
excitement in here."