Mater Dei trailed 24-3. The Trinity League title appeared destined to belong to St. John Bosco, one other win to cap an undefeated for the consensus No. 1 group within the nation.
Till Chris Henry Jr. emerged for 2 touchdowns and 214 yards on 5 receptions.
“He could be a track star,” mentioned Mater Dei coach Raul Lara, referencing Henry’s 70-yard landing catch close to the tip of the second quarter.
Till Kayden Dixon-Wyatt took over alongside his teammate — each Ohio State commits — and turned on the burners for 3 second-half scores.
“I wish I could be the quarterback,” Lara joked about his senior extensive receivers.
Testing the extensive receiver corps of Mater Dei — who outpowered the Braves’ spectacular trio of Division I-committed receivers — left St. John Bosco hapless on Friday night time in Bellflower. Mater Dei (7-2, 4-1) completed on a 33-7 run, Ryan Hopkins tossing 5 touchdowns in that span to assist the Monarchs defeat St. John Bosco 36-31 in comeback style.
Mater Dei Excessive’s CJ Lavender Jr. leaps excessive to make an interception through the sport in opposition to St. John Bosco on Friday night time.
(Craig Weston)
Hopkins completed 13-of-21 passing for 295 yards and the 5 touchdowns.
The entire doubts over the Monarchs’ regular-season marketing campaign may very well be near washed away because the second-half domination confirmed one other yr when Mater Dei at the very least owns a share of the Trinity League title.
Since Santa Margarita (7-3, 4-1) additionally gained Friday — defeating JSerra 41-14 — the Eagles, together with Mater Dei and St. John Bosco (9-1, 4-1) earned a share of the Trinity League crown.
Defensive stands arrange performs reminiscent of Henry’s 70-yard landing seize to chop the Braves’ result in seven with 4:12 remaining within the third quarter. Mater Dei defensive again CJ Lavender Jr. compelled and recovered a fumble within the first quarter to arrange the Monarchs’ first factors: a area purpose.
Lavender then intercepted St. John Bosco sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu twice extra.
One decide created a silver-platter landing for Dixon-Wyatt, who completed with 4 receptions for 46 yards and three touchdowns, whereas the opposite turnover allowed Mater Dei to seal the sport on fourth and 10 from its personal 10-yard line.
“Anything he threw, I was going to go get it,” mentioned Lavender, who now has a team-high seven interceptions on the season.
Mater Dei receiver Chris Henry Jr. hauls in a move over his shoulder forward of two St. John Bosco defenders on Friday night time.
(Craig Weston)
Earlier than the ultimate interception — which got here with 1:34 remaining within the sport — St. John Bosco was driving. An unsportsmanlike penalty even offered the Braves at first and inches from the purpose line.
However a nasty snap to Malau’ulu pushed the Braves backward to the seven-yard line. A run for a loss introduced St. John Bosco to the 10-yard line that then led to an interception.
Henry, who hadn’t performed since Oct. 10 in opposition to Orange Lutheran, mentioned he was itching to get again out on the sector to play St. John Bosco.
“It was really difficult,” Henry mentioned of his day without work the sector. “But I was ready for a game like this.”
Henry can have a lot extra alternatives upcoming within the CIF Southern Part Division 1 playoffs, beginning subsequent week.
The trio of Trinity League groups seemingly will see Sierra Canyon (10-0) — which completed its Mission League-winning marketing campaign with a 52-3 victory over Loyola — among the many groups they may face off in opposition to within the playoffs.
