Mater Dei 62 - Eagles 14
SANTA ANA, CA., October 7, 2016 – The Eagles ran into a gauntlet last Friday night against arguably the best team not just in California, but in the Nation. The Eagles (4-2, 0-1) opened up Trinity League play against the top ranked team in Orange County, California, and the number three ranked team in the country in Mater Dei (6-0, 1-0), and they certainly lived up to the bill. The Monarchs would put up 56 unanswered first half points as the Eagles failed to slow down the Monarch offense or find an offensive rhythm of their own all night.
Modest statistical numbers for the Eagles, senior quarterback Richard Wagner would finish his night completing six of 13 passes (46%) for 88 yards and a touchdown. Wagner would be replaced for much of the second half by sophomore quarterback Brenden Costello, who would complete six of eight passes (75%) for 60 yards and a touchdown. Oklahoma-bound senior Grant Calcaterra was held to just one catch on the night, but his one catch was good for 63 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore receiver Munir McClain finished his night with three catches for 16 yards and a touchdown as well.
The offensive workhorse for the night was junior running back Chad Magyar, who carried the ball 25 times for a hard-earned 113 yards. In six games played, Magyar has carried the ball 71 times and accumulated 467 yards with two 100+ yard games and six touchdowns.
Defensively, the Eagles dialed up pressure all night but the Monarchs were able to answer. Junior safety Joe Canty had his best statistical night and led the way for the Eagles with 10 total tackles, five solo and five assisted. Junior linebacker Caden Fitch ended his night with seven tackles and a sack which resulted in a nine yard loss.
The road through the Trinity League won’t get any easier tonight, as the Eagles travel to take on the Braves of St. John Bosco. St. John Bosco (5-1, 1-0) is currently ranked number two in California behind only Mater Dei and ranked fourth in the Nation according to Max Preps. Fresh off of their 70-6 throttling of Servite last week, the Braves are averaging 195 receiving yards, 268 rushing yards, and 45 points per game as they head into their matchup with the Eagles. Kickoff for tonight’s game is set for 7:00pm at Cerritos College and will be streaming live on the NFHS Network.
| Mater Dei | 28 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 62 |
| Santa Margarita | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
MD – Parks 18 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
MD – Harper 3 run (McGrath kick)
MD – A. St. Brown 9 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
MD – A. St. Brown 44 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
MD – O. St. Brown 80 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
MD – O. St. Brown 6 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
MD – A. St. Brown 9 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
MD – Remigio 26 pass from Daniels (McGrath kick)
SM – Calcaterra 63 pass from Wagner (Brady kick)
MD – Jones 7 run (McGrath kick)
SM – McClain 7 pass from Costello (Brady kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: MD - Jones 7-42, Blomquist 3-8, Harper 9-90; SM - Hastings 1-7, Costello 5-14, Magyar 24-102
Passing: MD - Daniels 18-22-0-305; SM - Wagner 5-13-0-100
Receiving: MD - A. St Brown 5-82, O. St. Brown 4-112; Parks 4-51; SM - Calcaterra 1-63, Pozzuoli 1-19, Ebach 11-34
Sean Zeitler
Sports Information Director
Daniels, Mater Dei cruise through first league test
SANTA ANA – This was supposed to be the night top-ranked Mater Dei finally got its first real test of the season.
This is when the Monarchs starters were going to have to grind it out for 48 minutes as opposed to the two quarters they’ve routinely torched opponents through much of the preseason.
It was the Trinity League opener, after all, and No. 3 Santa Margarita was coming in on a four-game winning streak, playing with a growing sense of confidence.
That’s what was supposed to happen. None of it actually did.
Like their first five outings of the season, the Monarchs made quick work of their south county foe.
Mater Dei sophomore quarterback JT Daniels tossed a career-high seven touchdown passes in the first half alone, the defensive and special teams units consistently set up the offense with a short field, and the Monarchs shellacked the visiting Eagles, 62-14, in a Trinity League game Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.
Daniels threw for 303 of his 305 yards in the first two quarters and played in just two series in the third. He connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown (82 yards) for three touchdowns, Osiris St. Brown (112 yards) caught a pair, and C.J. Parks (51 yards) and Nikko Remigio (34 yards) each hauled in a pass in the endzone.
Mater Dei (6-0, 1-0) led 56-0 at halftime, scoring on each of its first eight possessions.
“We had a great two weeks of preparation, my coaching staff just did a tremendous job in dialing them all in,” Monarchs coach Bruce Rollinson said after the game. “I thought our defense was outstanding, especially in the first half. I don’t even think they had 100 yards total (offense) and four first downs.”
The Monarchs defense dominated at every level in the opening two quarters, sacking Santa Margarita’s Richard Wagner four times, forcing a fumble, while limiting the Eagles offense to 55 yards on 31 plays. Santa Margarita (4-2, 0-1) did not gain a single yard through the air, went 0 for 9 on third downs, and went three-and-out on all four of its possessions in the first quarter.
Six of Mater Dei’s eight scoring drives in the opening half started in Eagles territory, thanks to three short punts, a forced fumble, Jack Genova’s blocked punt and Jalen Cole’s blocked field goal that he returned 44 yards into Santa Margarita’s side of the field.
Daniels and the offense only had possession of the ball for 7:57 in the first half compared to Santa Margarita’s 16:03, but the Monarchs average starting field position was the Eagles 41.
“That’s such a big help when you get the ball on the 40 every single time because you’ve got the best defense,” Daniels said. “Our special teams is always solid. So those guys make our job a lot easier than it looks.”
Mater Dei has outscored its six opponents, 286-7, in the first half alone.
Santa Margarita running back Chad Magyar battled his way to 102 yards on 24 carries.
By Kenny Connolly
Friday, October 7, 2016
The Orange County Register
