GAME RECAP: Monarchs Finish Off Season as Undefeated Open State Champions

By: Isabella Lyons

The number one team in the country, Mater Dei, met De La Salle tonight at Saddleback College Stadium in Mission Viejo. Both teams came into the match undefeated and with high expectations, setting the stage for the ultimate battle of California high school football. Mater Dei is led by Head Coach, Raul Lara and De La Salle is led by Head Coach Justin Alumbaugh.

The game begins with De La Salle kicking off to Mater Dei, where the touchback gives the Monarchs the ball. First play of the game the pass was completed to Marcus Harris at the 40 yard line, where he continued to take it down to the 22 yard line on the following play. Mark Bowman catches the ball and brings the Monarchs to the 6 yard line where Dash Beierly’s pass is completed to Jordon Davison at the 2 yard line for a gain of 4. Immediately following, Davison goes 3 yards to the endzone for the first score of the game. 

De La Salle has the ball and almost immediately finds themselves at 4 & 11, unable to score, the Spartans punt to Mater Dei with a 60 yard punt to the 19 yard line where the Monarchs take over. Handoff to Davison for a 21 yard pick up, but the next pass to Gavin Honore is incomplete. Beierly keeps the ball and is chased down at the 47 yard line for a Monarch 4th down. Beierly keeps the ball once again but is stopped by a group of Spartans led by Myah Telona, where the ball is turned over back to the Spartans.

With the ball the Spartans aren’t able to make it far before losing 5 yards,resulting in a punt to the Monarchs, with penalty markers all over the field. The penalty moved the ball back to the 10 yard line where the Monarchs took over. With a 90 yard touchdown, Gavin Honore runs in to bring the score to 14-0 after the extra point, turning the ball back over to the Spartans where Jaden Jefferson returns the ball for 29 yards at the 30 yard line. 

Once again unable to score again, Mater Dei takes over, starting off with a 4 yard gain on the play with 2nd down and 6 to go. Beierly’s pass is complete to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt with 4th down and 2 to go for the Monarchs. Kennie Leggett takes the ball down to the 31 yard line for a Monarch 1st down before being pushed out of bounds. Shortly after, there is a loss of 9 yards on the play before the end of the 1st quarter. 

The Monarchs turn possession over on downs and De La Salle has the ball at their own 32 yard line. Brayden Knight’s pass is deflected by the Monarchs handing the ball back over to Mater Dei where Jordon Davison almost immediately runs the ball to the De La Salle 34 yard line for a 24 yard gain on the left side. Beirely’s Kayden pass to Dixon-Wyatt lands the Monarchs at the 2 yard line for 1st & goal, Davison runs the ball the next play for a gain of 1. 

From inside the 1 yard line, it’s 2nd & goal when Davison runs the ball but is unable to make it to the endzone. Davison is down with an injury for less than a minute, but is being walked off the field, while holding his arm. With Davison out, the Monarchs have Bowman recover the fumble but there is a loss of 1. From the 2 yard line, it’s the Monarch’s final chance to score. Beierly attempts to run the ball in but is stopped by Myah Telona, De La Salle takes over at their own 2 yard line. 

Beierly’s pass is complete to Koen Parnell, not long after, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt finds the endzone for a 21 yard Monarch touchdown, the score is 23-0. The ball is kicked off to De La Salle where the Spartans have the ball at the 20 yard line, De La Salle quickly takes a time out though after being held by the Monarch defense. Fyrian Inferrera is run out of bounds as the half wraps up.

With the 2nd half underway, Mater Dei kicks to De La Salle, who are able to take it to the 31 yard line where Toa Fa’avae is taken down at the 21. Dominic Kelly takes it to the 11 before the Monarchs take their 1st timeout of the half. Kelly again picks up a yard where it’s 2nd & goal from the 1 yard line. Toa Fa’avae goes 1 yard for a De La Salle touchdown, their first of the night against Mater Dei. 

Monarchs with the ball, Ace Leutele brings the ball up to the 25 yard line with a 23 yard return. Beierly is quickly dropped for a loss of 5 on the play by Matthew Johnson, the Monarchs are set to punt to the Spartans. Derrick Blanche quickly gains yards for the Spartans, but Toa Fa’avae runs the ball 41 yards into the endzone, followed by a 2 point conversion. 

De La Salle kicks off to Mater Dei where Derrick Blanche returns. The ball is taken to the 8 yard line after a Mater Dei penalty. Backed up to the endzone, Beirely finds Mark Bowman for a Mater Dei 1st down. Jordan Davison is brought down by Matthew Johnson to put the Monarchs at 4th & 1. With 3rd & 13, Beierly’s pass is completed to Marcus Harris, which sets Jordon Davison up for a 15 yard run up the middle to the endzone with the score at 30-15.

De La Salle turns possession over on downs. Mater Dei has the ball on the Spartans’ 35 yard line. Dash Beierly’s 31 yard pass is completed to Mark Bowman for a Mater Dei touchdown late in the 4th quarter, the score is 37-15 after the extra point. The ball is turned back over to De La Salle where Fa’avae runs it down to Spartans 48 yard line. Just before a possible scoring play, Abdull Sanders intercepts the De La Salle pass at their own 47 yard line to give possession back to the Monarchs. With a fumble recovered by Dj Asiasi at the 37 yard line, the Spartans have the ball.

But before a score can be made, Ace Leutele intercepts a De La Salle pass and has the ball on their own 10 yard line. This was the highest scoring game from a Northern Californian team since 2019 in the Open Division. The final score remains 37-15, Coach Raul Lara has officially secured his first victory as the Mater Dei head coach and the Monarchs defend their State Championship title.