Mater Dei Picks Up Ball, Wins Big : Football: No. 1 Monarchs turn five Servite turnovers into scores in a 44-0 rout.

Quarterback Billy Blanton has made headlines for Mater Dei High School all season, but the Monarchs’ defense stole the spotlight Thursday night.

Mater Dei turned five Servite turnovers into four touchdowns and a field goal in a 44-0 Angelus League romp in front of 10,000 fans at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

It was the worst loss for Servite (5-2, 0-1 in league) since 1981 when the Friars lost to St. Paul, 42-7, in the second round of the playoffs. It could have been worse. Mater Dei had the ball inside Servite’s 20-yard four times in the first quarter but managed only 10 points.

Mater Dei (8-0, 2-0) capitalized on three fumbles by Servite running back Elphamous Malbrue and an interception by quarterback Josh Nelson to gain a 31-0 lead at halftime.

Linebacker David Knuff, defensive back Ray Jackson and lineman Jose Gonzalez each recovered a Malbrue fumble and Brian Barajas returned his sixth interception of the season for 29 yards and a touchdown.

“Our defense just played awesome,” Blanton said. “The big key for us was their turnovers.”

While the outcome was never in doubt, it was anybody’s guess whether the 8,000-seat stadium could accommodate the big crowd. The stadium was full 20 minutes before the kickoff and fire marshals locked the gates midway through the first quarter. An estimated 1,000 fans were shut out.

“This is what high school football is all about, right here,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “This is Division I football.”

Well, almost. Mater Dei certainly delivered a big-time performance with Blanton picking apart Servite’s secondary to the tune of 185 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also scored on a two-yard keeper.

Blanton’s first touchdown pass was a major league play. While rolling to his right, Blanton somehow managed to get off a pass to Knuff in the end zone. Blanton threw the ball while diving through the air and Knuff made another dive to get to it.

Blanton completed his final pass--a 19-yarder to Toby Sanchez--on the first play of the fourth quarter and then retired to the sideline. By then, most of the Servite crowd had left with the Friars trailing, 41-0.

Mater Dei’s Brian Broadbent even got his kicks in the rout. Broadbent kicked three field goals, including a 47-yarder in the third quarter that gave Mater Dei a 34-0 lead. Broadbent’s 31-yard field goal in the final quarter finished the scoring.

It was a forgettable evening for Servite. Malbrue carried seven times for minus four yards and lost three fumbles. Servite had only 42 yards rushing.

Nelson completed 10 of 19 passes but most of his completions went for short yardage. He finished with 95 yards passing and two interceptions.

“I don’t have much to say,” Servite Coach Larry Toner said afterward. “We fumbled four times, threw interceptions deep in our own territory. Nothing grandiose . . . it’s that simple.”