Mater Dei Beats Tough Santa Ana Valley

Though the final score of Mater Dei High School’s win over Santa Ana Valley Friday night was as one-sided as expected, the 41-20 outcome wasn’t at all indicative of the way the teams performed in Santa Ana Stadium.

The Monarchs, considered to have one of Orange County’s better teams, were coming off a loss last week. And their opponent Friday was a team that hadn’t won a game since 1983 and had a head coach who had been on the job less than two weeks.

The Falcons displayed surprising quickness and tenacity, however, and made the game a much tougher struggle than many would have anticipated. Valley led throughout most of the first half. As late as the fourth quarter, the Falcons were still within four points of the Monarchs.

One observer who wasn’t at all surprised by the Falcons’ play was Mater Dei Coach Chuck Gallo.

“They were great. They came ready to play,” Gallo said of the Falcons. “They’re very fast. We weren’t surprised, no. We knew they were going to be fast.”

Valley jumped out in front immediately, as Falcon John Hollis returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. Had it not been for the series of Valley turnovers which ensued, the Falcons could have built a commanding lead. Instead, three of those turnovers resulted in setting up Mater Dei scores.

The Monarchs’ first drive stalled at their 42, forcing a punt. Valley punt returner Paul Peters signaled for a fair catch, but he fumbled the ball on the Falcon 23, where Mater Dei’s Mike Motherway recovered. Six plays later, Gary Coston kicked a 30-yard field goal to put Mater Dei on the scoreboard, 7-3.

On the next series, Valley’s first offensive possession of the game, Falcon quarterback James Shipp bobbled the first two exchanges from center. The second fumble was recovered by Monarch Mike Kelly, giving Mater Dei the ball at the Valley 25.

The Monarchs scored on the next play, as quarterback Todd Marinovich threw his first of four touchdown passes. This one was a 25-yard strike to wide receiver Jim O’Brien, giving Mater Dei a 10-7 lead. O’Brien caught eight passes in the contest, including three touchdowns.

Valley, however, regained the lead on its next drive. On third and 14 from the Falcon 16, Shipp dashed 48 yards on a keeper to give Valley a first down at the Mater Dei 36. Five plays later, running back Wayne Mack carried 15 yards for a touchdown, and the Falcons were again ahead, 14-10.

Then, midway through the second period, Valley seemed to be driving for another score when the Falcons stalled at the Monarch 23. Valley then attempted a field goal, but the snap from center was low, forcing placeholder Steve Calhoun to roll out. He was hit hard from behind by Mater Dei’s Tim Haider and fumbled. Mike McGlinn grabbed the ball in midair and ran 55 yards for a touchdown. That put the Monarchs ahead for good, 17-14.

Mater Dei opened the second half with a scoring drive, capped by another touchdown pass from Marinovich to O’Brien, this one a 37-yarder. Valley came back on the next possession to scored on Mack’s one-yard run. In the fourth quarter, the Monarchs took control of the game.