Mater Dei Beats Mission Viejo

The game had been circled on Bruce Rollinson’s calendar for nine months, and Thursday in front of about 8,500, his Santa Ana Mater Dei football team announced it was back in the big time.

It happened with a 17-14 overtime victory against Mission Viejo (2-1), ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, at Santa Ana Stadium, in which the unheralded Mater Dei defense gave up only one big play, the heralded offensive line did exactly what it was supposed to do, and Ahmed Mokhtar ran like he did last season.

It also happened because Patrick Duffy kicked a 27-yard field goal to give third-ranked Mater Dei (2-0) a 17-14 lead in overtime, and left-footed David Green of Mission Viejo hooked his 30-yarder wide right.

“They’re the premier program, and we wanted the win to reestablish this high school,” Rollinson said. “Obviously it’s big because we’ve been pointing toward this.”

It was only the third loss in 73 games for Mission Viejo. The Diablos had beaten Mater Dei five times in the last five years heading into the game.

Mokhtar rushed 28 times for 161 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown run with 8:35 left in the game to tie the score at 14-14.

The Monarchs might have won in regulation, but Mokhtar fumbled at the Mission Viejo five-yard line with 3:35 remaining and Alex Mascarenas recovered for Mission Viejo at the one.

Mater Dei fullback and linebacker Travis McNaughton rushed seven times for 18 yards but had a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to tie the score at 7-7.

Brian Lockridge carried the ball 24 times for 158 yards for Mission Viejo, including an 80-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.

Teammate Keegan Gogerty carried 10 times for 41 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown run.

Both teams are ranked No. 1 in their respective South Divisions for the season-ending California bowl game.

Mission Viejo is fourth and Mater Dei fifth in the most recent state rankings by Cal-Hi Sports. And Mission Viejo is No. 20 and Mater Dei No. 47 in the national top 50 by Student Sports magazine.

Mission Viejo won last year’s game, 48-7.

Matt Barkley of Mater Dei completed nine of 18 passes for 130 yards with one interception Thursday. Kyle Kirchmeyer of Mission Viejo completed eight of 13 passes for 143 yards.

martin.henderson@latimes.com