MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — Amid controversy off the field, Mater Dei (Santa Ana), the nation's top-ranked football team, took care of business on it. The Monarchs raced to a 21-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 44-7 victory Saturday over Serra (San Mateo) in the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division championship game at Saddleback College.
Sophomore quarterback Elijah Brown completed a beautiful 78-yard touchdown bomb to Cooper Barkate on the team's second play from scrimmage and the Monarchs (12-0) were on their way to their third Open Division title since 2017.
Though the touchdown pass was majestic, it was Mater Dei's tenacious, active and fleet defense that keyed the next three scores and prevented Serra (11-2) from gaining any momentum or thoughts of a momentous comeback. ...Continue Reading on MaxPreps.com
