Mater Dei Has Too Much Going for It Not to Be on Top

This week’s poll is pure rigmarole.

Or maybe it was just a misprint.

Mater Dei, the best high school football team in Orange County, dropped to No. 3 in the OC Sportswriters Assn. poll, falling behind No. 1 Esperanza and No. 2 Valencia.

Valencia? Sure, the fancy-dancing Tigers rule against teams their own size, but let’s see them deal with the hottest Dei in years.

Esperanza? Granted, the Aztecs are a force. They’ve got a solid running game, a strong defense and linemen who could bring down a small stadium.

But better than Mater Dei? No way.

Here, in no particular order, are the reasons why:

Depth. Mater Dei goes deep, as in 20 to 25 top quality reserves. In fact, one Mater Dei could probably play two of most schools. No other county team comes close.

Defense. You want linebackers? Jason Thies and David Knuff are like two Tasmanian Devils in a game of kill ball. Big, strong, athletic and smart. Division I, here they come.

Secondary. Brian Barajas leads the county with six interceptions, and Brian Solis doesn’t know that a 5-foot-6, 150-pound guy isn’t supposed to be playing as if he’s 6-2, 230.

John Grootegoed. Against Mission Viejo--then ranked No. 1--this 280-pound offensive lineman’s assignment was to take care of much-heralded tackle Matt Keneley. Grootegoed won the power struggle, and Mater Dei won, 42-7.

Brian Broadbent. OK, so this highly intelligent kicker is a bit, uh, moody (his teammates call him Norman, as in Bates) and is prone to pouting when he misses. Fortunately for the Monarchs, that isn’t often.

Coach Bruce Rollinson, who dreaded kickoffs just two years ago, now has complete trust in Broadbent. Rollinson also lets him attempt field goals up to 55 yards.

Chris Ruperto. The running back/wingback/defensive back sprained an ankle in the opening minutes against Servite, but he is healthy again. He leads the team with 11 touchdowns.

Billy Blanton. a.k.a. The Kid, B.B. Gun, Mr. Velocity. He’s the second-leading passer in the county--and the state--with 2,371 yards passing, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 63.1% completion rate.

(OK, Valencia fans, we hear you. Blanton is behind Tiger quarterback Marc O’Brien in the county ratings. But, hey, what do ratings matter anyhow?)

Anyway, Blanton alone makes Mater Dei one of the best teams around. Last year, he had early-season troubles but threw for 743 yards and 11 touchdowns in three games before the Division I semifinal against Quartz Hill. In that game, Blanton was intercepted three times and Mater Dei lost, 37-7. He wants to make up for it. Don’t bet against him.

Knuff. The modest Monarch is more than a linebacker; he’s Blanton’s favorite target at tight end, having caught 38 passes for 646 yards--a 17-yard average. He has some nice moves, too. See also: receiver Roger Morante.

Home crowd. No county team brings them out like Mater Dei, and this year, game night seems to be especially popular. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when you’re 8-1, but 8-0 Esperanza doesn’t draw half as many fans.

Team unity. At this time last year, Monarch spirits were tumbling in turmoil. Two controversial transfers--need we say their names?--brought an element to the team not entirely appreciated. Some players harbored grudges over losing their spots to a couple of Sparkses.

This year, the team’s seniors are made up almost entirely of the 31 players who led the sophomore team to an undefeated season in 1989. And even though Blanton’s a star, the Monarchs are a true team .

Coaching. With a newly installed offensive coordinator (Dave Money) and defensive coordinator (Eric Johnson) and at least six other assistant coaches at his service, Rollinson can pour all his energies into his natural role--the motivator.

Last year, in his second season as head coach at what must be the county’s most pressure-packed program, Rollinson was an emotional time bomb on the sideline. This year, he has mellowed considerably, managing to keep cool when things get hot. The Monarch players have responded in turn, keeping poised on and off the field.

A cynic might say it’s easy to stay cool when you’re 8-1.

Maybe it’s the other way around.