Mater Dei 49 - Eagles 13
Mater Dei sprints past Santa Margarita in final tune-up for St. John Bosco
SANTA ANA, CA., April 9, 2020 – Mater Dei High football coach Bruce Rollinson believed the Monarchs faced a potential “trap game” on Friday, April 9 if they looked past Santa Margarita and toward a showdown next week.
Orange County’s top-ranked team didn’t fall for it.
On the Monarchs’ Senior Night, freshman quarterback Elijah Brown threw for four first-half touchdowns and running back Raleek Brown rushed for two scores as Mater Dei showed its focus in a 49-13 victory against No. 4 Santa Margarita at Santa Ana Stadium.
The Monarchs (4-0, 4-0) opened a 28-0 lead with 1:48 left in the opening quarter and mostly contained the high-powered offense of the Eagles (2-2, 1-2) in their final tune-up for its clash against Trinity League rival St. John Bosco (4-0, 3-0) on Saturday, April 17 at Santa Ana Stadium.
Mater Dei and St. John Bosco have met in the past four CIF-SS Division 1 finals but will close a season delayed and shortened by the pandemic.
“It’s on like popcorn, baby,” Rollinson said of facing the Braves. “It was a business-like effort. I’m pleased with the way they played, and I thought we were very physical on the offensive line. That’s a good defensive line.”
Santa Margarita, coming off a bye due to Orange Lutheran canceling a game because of a positive COVID-19 test in its program, posed a challenge after playing St. John Bosco tough for a half earlier in league before losing 65-28.
Brown, taking the reins for Bryce Young (now at Alabama), completed 16 of 21 passes in the first half for 250 yards to lead a quick-strike offense. He finished 20 of 25 for 291 yards, and also rushed for a touchdown in the second half.
“I saw a lot of growth tonight,” Rollinson said of Brown.
Mater Dei drove 42 yards on five plays for its score, an 8-yard TD pass to slot receiver Josiah Zamora, who continued his breakout senior season. He finished with a game-high six catches for 58 yards.
The Monarchs covered 70 yards on only three plays on their next possession, which Brown capped with a 21-yard touchdown strike to USC-bound Kyron Ware-Hudson.
Junior Quincy Craig hauled in Brown’s third touchdown, tipping a pass to himself while in stride en route to a 72-yard TD.
Raleek Brown, a junior committed to Oklahoma, added a 12-yard touchdown run for a 28-0 lead with 1:48 left in the first quarter. He broke a 43-yard TD run in the second half and finished with 93 yards on nine carries in his best games with the Monarchs.
With 4 seconds left in the first quarter, Santa Margarita responded with a 54-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Jalen Jones from Colt Fulton but Brown answered by leading Mater Dei to its fifth score in as many possessions. He punctuated a 58-yard march with a 24-yard TD pass to CJ Williams.
Mater Dei’s defense received sacks from Malaki Te’o, Lyrik Fata and Jesus Venegas. The Monarchs, playing without corner Cam Sidney, outside linebacker David Bailey and Tyler Narayan, limited Fulton to 11 of 31 passing for 157 yards and two TDs. The unit also held the Eagles to 3 of 15 on third-down conversions.
Sidney and Bailey are expected to return against St. John Bosco.
Mater Dei also cut down on its penalties, a problem last week in 24-17 victory against No. 2 Servite. The Monarchs were flagged six times for 70 yards.
Junior defensive tackle Hero Kanu was a bright spot for Santa Margarita with 10 total tackles, including the Eagles’ lone sack.
| Mater Dei | 28 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
MD – Zamora 8 pass from E. Brown (Meyer kick)
MD – Ware-Hudson 21 pass from E. Brown (Meyer kick)
MD – Craig 72 pass from E. Brown (Meyer kick)
MD – R. Brown 12 run (Meyer kick)
SM – Jones 54 pass from Fulton (Wilson kick)
MD – Williams 24 pass from E. Brown (Meyer kick)
SM – Buckley 32 pass from Fulton (Grogan run failed)
MD – R. Brown 43 run (Burrell kick)
MD – E. Brown 3 run (Meyer kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: MD - R. Brown 9-93; SM - Santillan 17-76
Passing: MD - E. Brown 20-25-0-291; SM - Fulton 12-28-0-157
Receiving: MD - Zamora 6-60, Craig 3-96; SM - Jones 4-78, Buckley 4-53
By Dan Albano
Friday, April 9, 2021
The Orange County Register
