In a highly anticipated matchup between the nation’s top two high school football teams, Mater Dei delivered a stunning performance, dominating St. John Bosco 59-14 at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday night. The Monarchs’ victory was so decisive that it left even seasoned observers of this storied rivalry in awe.

From the opening whistle, Mater Dei (8-0) asserted their dominance, building an insurmountable 45-0 lead by halftime. This marked the most points Mater Dei has ever scored against St. John Bosco in their series history, which dates back to 1966[12].

The Monarchs’ offense, led by quarterback Dash Beierly, was firing on all cylinders. Beierly, a Washington commit, showcased his dual-threat capabilities, throwing for four touchdowns and adding another on the ground. His first play from scrimmage set the tone for the evening, connecting with Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on a 35-yard touchdown strike off a flea-flicker[12].

Equally impressive was Mater Dei’s suffocating defense, which forced four turnovers that led to 32 points[12]. The defensive onslaught was highlighted by Aaryn Washington’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown, which extended the Monarchs’ lead to 31-0 in the second quarter[12].

Running back Jordon Davison was another standout for Mater Dei, pounding the ground game and capping off a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown plunge early in the second quarter[12].

For St. John Bosco (8-1), the game was a sobering experience. Freshman quarterback Koa Malau’ulu struggled under intense pressure from Mater Dei’s relentless pass rush, finishing the game 8 of 22 for 112 yards with two interceptions[13].

Braves’ coach Jason Negro summed up the night, saying, “We were just overwhelmed. It was like an avalanche. They’re the best team we’ve faced. They’re so physical up front.”[13]

The victory was particularly sweet for Mater Dei’s first-year head coach Raul Lara, who called his team’s first-half performance the best of the regular season. “They executed well and controlled the line,” Lara said. “That was the sharpest we’ve been.”[13]

As the dust settles on this historic matchup, Mater Dei has firmly established itself as the team to beat in California and the nation. However, with one regular season game remaining and potential playoff matchups looming, the Monarchs will need to maintain this level of excellence to secure their place at the top of high school football.

Citations:
[1] https://www.si.com/high-school/california/mater-dei-vs-st-john-bosco-football-live-score-updates-10-25-2024-01jb2szv46k6
[2] https://www.si.com/high-school/california/mater-dei-versus-st-john-bosco-history-lesson-every-score-since-1966-game-summaries-since-2015-01javdz8mff6
[3] https://www.si.com/high-school/california/st-john-bosco-vs-mater-dei-how-to-watch-live-stream-for-high-school-football-game-of-the-year-10-25-2024
[4] https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2024-10-18/la-times-top-25-high-school-football-teams-fared-week-8
[5] https://www.maxpreps.com/video/watch/no-12-orange-lutheran-takes-down-22-st-frances-15-13-in-high-school-football-battle/?v=fb6ab2ac-95b4-4d2c-816e-dd086444fa13
[6] https://www.si.com/high-school/california/top-25-california-southern-section-high-school-football-scoreboard-week-8-10-18-24-01jagcdfyecw
[7] https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2024-10-20/la-times-top-25-high-school-football-rankings-week-8
[8] https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/sports/story/2024-10-20/edison-claims-victory-over-los-alamitos-in-alpha-league-opener
[9] https://telepeer.net/santa-ana-news/
[10] https://www.maxpreps.com/games/10-24-2024/football-24/los-alamitos-vs-san-clemente.htm?c=6xHSe_uOvUSIJd7rtREZRA
[11] https://www.si.com/high-school/stats/california/football/games/4402857-san-clemente-vs-los-alamitos
[12] https://www.maxpreps.com/news/0eMvOOvsYkeenVqlWQfU-w/high-school-football-no-1-mater-dei-dominates-no-2-st-john-bosco-59-14.htm
[13] https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2024-10-25/mater-dei-st-john-bosco-trinity-league-game-recap