GAME RECAP: Monarchs Bounce Back with Big Win over the Lancers

On a picturesque evening in Orange County, CIF Southern Section Football was back as Week 9 of the Regular Season begins, The highly anticipated matchup between the Mater Dei Monarchs and the Orange Lutheran Lancers brought football fans together for a great Trinity League Matchup.

The Mater Dei Monarchs wasted no time igniting the excitement, with Senior Quarterback Elijah Brown, a Stanford commit, launching a stunning 32-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Brown, giving Mater Dei an early 7-0 lead. Their dominance continued as they capitalized on an Orange Lutheran fumble, resulting in a one-yard rushing touchdown by Nathaniel Frazier.

The Orange Lutheran Lancers found themselves struggling, especially in the first quarter when they fumbled the ball again, and Mater Dei pounced on the opportunity on the Lancers’ 19-yard line. Elijah Brown showed off his skills all night, connecting with Jonah Smith for a 17-yard touchdown, extending Mater Dei’s lead to 21-0.

The second quarter witnessed Mater Dei’s relentless pursuit of excellence as Elijah Brown orchestrated a 65-yard passing touchdown to Nathaniel Frazier, one of the fastest players in the county, pushing their lead to 28-0. Senior Running Back Ajon Bryant added to the Monarchs’ tally with a 25-yard touchdown.

Amidst the Lancers’ struggles, Ben Alefaio provided a glimmer of hope with a crucial interception. However, Mater Dei wasn’t done. They managed to march down the field and set up Junior Kicker Dominic Zante for a 36-yard field goal, heading into halftime with a commanding 38-0 lead.

The Orange Lutheran Lancers needed a quick turnaround in the second half, and they found it as TJ Lateef connected with Chris Flores Jr. for a remarkable diving catch. Junior Running Back Steve Chavez then dashed for a 36-yard rushing touchdown, finally putting the Lancers on the board at 38-7.

Mater Dei proved to be a force to be reckoned with as Elijah Brown executed a deep 45-yard passing touchdown to Mark Bowman. The Monarchs further solidified their lead with an astonishing 83-yard rushing touchdown by Ajon Bryant, reaching a commanding 52-7, and Joseph Gutierrez added three more points with a field goal.

The Orange Lutheran Lancers managed to add another six points with a rushing touchdown from Brayden Henson, but it was too late, as the Mater Dei Monarchs bounced back from their previous week’s loss to St. John Bosco with a resounding 55-13 victory.

Mater Dei will return to the Santa Ana Bowl next Friday at 7 pm for their regular season finale against Santa Margarita. As for the Orange Lutheran Lancers, they face a formidable challenge next week as they strive to rebound against the nation’s top-ranked team, St. John Bosco, at Orange Coast College at 7 pm.