Football News

Kweku Claybrook, St. Anthony Football

St. Anthony got their first win of the season last week, edging Wilson behind a significantly-improved offense. Wide receiver Kweku “Q” Claybrook has emerged as a productive receiver, and had three catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

After suffering their third straight loss to start the season against Millikan last Friday, the St. Anthony Saints met for their usual Saturday practice. Every player showed up and first-year coach Raul Lara said the staff challenged the kids to focus in the weight room and pay attention to details.

St. Anthony football coach Raul Lara said his team is going to “reap” the hard work they put in practice when it comes to executing in games.

Despite falling to Mayfair, 37-20, on Friday at Bellflower HS, the team showed drastic improvements after being shutout by San Pedro just a week prior.

St. Anthony head coach Raul Lara knew his team was in for a tough test on Thursday night in their season opener. The Saints were hosting the San Pedro Pirates–among the pre-season favorites in the LA City Section–at a neutral site game hosted at St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy in Downey.

The longtime Long Beach Poly coach departed the Jackrabbits program in 2013 after 13 years as head coach and five CIF-SS Division 1 championships. He brought wins and success to a struggling Warren program, and for the last couple of years had been serving as an assistant coach at Servite, observing the Trinity League while waiting for the right opportunity to take over a program in his hometown.

St. Anthony embarks on its new era in football with visions of grandeur and an understanding that reaching the heights that await is not going to come easy.

After announcing they’d parted ways with longtime football coach Mario Morales yesterday, St. Anthony is making big waves today with the announcement that they’ve hired Long Beach Poly coaching great Raul Lara to be the Saints’ next coach. Lara won five CIF-SS Division 1 championships while coaching the Jackrabbits, then had a successful stint coaching at Warren. He’d been an assistant coach at Servite most recently, while looking for his next head gig.

St. Anthony is parting ways with its most successful football coach in half a century, as the school didn’t renew its contract with head coach Mario Morales.

St. Anthony will continue its tradition of playing a Moore League team this season by opening the year on Friday night against Lakewood at Clark Field. Ninth-year coach Mario Morales works at Lakewood during the day and has had his team play Wilson, where he used to coach, since 2014.