COSTA MESA — Six days after getting shut out by St. John Bosco, Mater Dei played like it had something to prove Thursday.
The Monarchs scored points on nine of their 10 possessions to beat Orange Lutheran 55-13 in a Trinity League football game at Orange Coast College.
Mater Dei lost to St. John Bosco 28-0 last week in a battle of teams ranked among the top 5 nationally.
Senior quarterback Elijah Brown completed 7 of 8 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns.
Mater Dei touchdowns were scored by Ajon Bryant on runs of 25 and 65 yards, Nathaniel Frazier on a 65-yard reception and on a 1-yard run, Marcus Brown on a 26-yard catch, Jonah Smith on a 9-yard reception, and Mark Bowman on a 45-yard reception. Joseph Gutierrez and Dominic Zante kicked field goals for the Monarchs.
Mater Dei first-year head coach Frank McManus liked how his team recovered so well from last week’s loss.
“I think there was a renewed focus, a reviewed energy after the guys got past the depression, all the angers you go through when you have a tough game,” McManus said. “I was really most happy with our execution.”
Mater Dei junior linebacker Nasir Wyatt had three sacks, giving him nine sacks this season.
Wyatt said Mater Dei saw Thursday’s game as an opportunity to reestablish its status.
“Today was our statement game,” Wyatt said. “We definitely feel like we’re the best team, we still feel like we’re the No. 1 team in the country.”
Mater Dei, No. 1 in the Orange County Top 25, is 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the Trinity League. The Monarchs are in second place league. Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 2 in the county, is 5-4 overall and 2-2 in league.
Mater Dei concludes the regular season Friday, Oct. 27, with a league game at Santa Ana Stadium against Santa Margarita. Orange Lutheran plays St. John Bosco in a league game Friday, Oct. 27, at Orange Coast College to conclude the regular season.
The Monarchs took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, the scoring started…
Read the full article here
