Orange County Prep Football : Mater Dei Beats Edison, Ends 10-Year Drought : 2 Fourth-Quarter Touchdowns Deal Chargers Fourth Straight Loss, 20-10

Mater Dei High School earned its first win over Edison since 1976 as the Monarchs, scoring two touchdowns in the last quarter, scored a 20-10 decision Friday night in front of 4,200 fans in LeBard Stadium.

The Monarchs (3-1) trailed, 10-7, with 9:32 remaining in the game, but quarterback Mark Ramstack and tailback Robert Clifford led a rally that sent Edison reeling to its fourth straight loss.

Ramstack, who had passed for only 31 yards in the first three quarters, teamed with wide receiver George Lynch on a 35-yard touchdown pass play to push the Monarchs ahead, 14-10. Clifford’s 54-yard run set up the clinching touchdown with 1:22 remaining.

Mater Dei had lost seven consecutive games to the Chargers since last beating Edison, 28-20, in 1976. Chuck Gallo, the Monarchs’ pass-happy coach, hadn’t lost sight of the long drought.

“I probably had the team wound up too tight because I kept reminding them all week of how long it’s been since we’ve beaten Edison,” Gallo said. “We finally got our skilled people under control in the second half and played good football.”

The Monarchs wasted four scoring opportunities in the first half and trailed, 7-0, at the intermission. As a result of four Edison turnovers, Mater Dei took possession at the Chargers’ 23-, 23-, 22-, 16-yard lines. But, each time, the Edison’s defense turned back the Monarchs.

Edison took the opening kickoff and marched 59 yards for its only touchdown, but in doing so, lost its’ seventh starter this season with a major injury. Fullback Brett Page was carried off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury after the third play of the game.

“It looks pretty serious,” said Dave White, Edison coach.

The Chargers lost any chance of gaining their first win with a costly interception. Quarterback Greg Angelovic’s pass intended for wide receiver Patrick Reilly was picked off by cornerback Robby Smith in the Monarchs’ end zone with 4:29 remaining and Mater Dei clinging to a 14-10 lead.

“That was the game,” White said. “We drove down to their seven-yard line, didn’t score and then they came back and scored again. They got us in the fourth quarter.”

Mater Dei’s win also brought a measure of redemption for its offensive line. The linemen were criticized by Gallo for failing to protect Ramstack in a 24-3 loss to Santa Ana last week.

“We start four juniors and a sophomore on the line and they took a lot of heat last week,” Gallo said. “I thought they did a good job tonight. They’re young, but they’re getting better.”