Mater Dei Starts Quickly, Beats Long Beach Poly

Long Beach Poly utilizes a no-huddle offense designed to take opponents by surprise.

But Friday night against Santa Ana Mater Dei, the Jackrabbits were caught on their heels.

On the first play, Mater Dei quarterback Billy Blanton connected with Rick Ellis on an 81-yard touchdown pass play that set the tone for the Monarchs’ 58-31 victory in a Southern Section Division I playoff game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. Mater Dei (6-5) rolled up 456 yards and scored on nine of its 11 possessions, including all five in the first half in building a 31-18 lead.

Blanton, a junior, completed 15 of 18 passes for 221 yards and five touchdowns.

Mater Dei tailback Derek Sparks gained 213 yards in 23 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 31, 22 and 34 yards.

It was the second consecutive impressive performance for the Monarchs, who were coming off a 48-21 victory over St. John Bosco, in which they gained 637 yards.

“They got off to a good start and we were never able to get into our flow defensively,” said Long Beach Poly Co-Coach Jerry Jaso, who added that it was worst beating sustained by the Jackrabbits in his 11 years on the staff.

Long Beach Poly (6-5) was led by tailback Mark Faraimo, who rushed for 166 yards in 16 carries and scored on touchdown runs of seven, 43, three and 74 yards.

Despite the prowess of the Mater Dei offense, Long Beach Poly could have made things interesting if it had not wasted its only real opportunity in the third quarter.

After Long Beach Poly forced Mater Dei to punt on the Monarchs’ first possession of the second half, Faraimo pulled the Jackrabbits to within 31-25 with his 74-yard scoring run.

But the Long Beach Poly defense then surrendered four consecutive touchdowns, and Mater Dei put the game out of reach.

Sparks started the onslaught by breaking five tackles on a 34-yard scoring run. Blanton then sandwiched a four-yard touchdown pass to Terry Flannigan between scoring passes of 14 and 10 yards to David Gonzalez.

“We knew we could complete the short passes against them,” Blanton said. “It was pretty easy for me because everyone was playing so well.”

Ellis finished with five receptions for 123 yards, and Gonzalez had four catches for 47 yards.

Long Beach Poly rolled up 348 yards.

Faraimo’s 43-yard scoring run pulled the Jackrabbits to within 17-12 with 9:17 left in the first half.

But Sparks scored on 31 and 22 yards plays for a 31-12 lead with 2:35 left in the half.