Mater Dei Meets Loyola Tonight

Emotions are expected to be high tonight when undefeated Santa Ana Mater Dei, The Times’ third-ranked Southern Section team, plays No. 8 Loyola in an Angelus League game at Glendale High. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

After last year’s game, won by Mater Dei, 3-0, Monarch running back Derek Sparks and his uncle, Leland Sparks, infuriated Loyola supporters by doing an impromptu square dance on the field in front of the Cub coaching staff. Mater Dei, 7-0 overall and 1-0 in league play, is led by quarterback Billy Blanton, the state’s second-leading passer with 2,051 yards.