PREP FOOTBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : All 9-1 Gets Mater Dei Is a Trip to Quartz Hill

Santa Ana Mater Dei High, which has not won a league title in football since 1979, figured a victory over previously undefeated La Puente Bishop Amat Friday night might make it a high-seeded team in the Division I playoffs.

But when the Southern Section brackets were released Sunday, the Monarchs (9-1) learned that they will travel to a first-round game at Quartz Hill, last year’s division runner-up.

Pairings were released for all 10 Southern Section divisions Sunday. First-round games are Friday and Saturday, with championships slated for Dec. 13-14.

Mater Dei defeated Bishop Amat, 24-6, to force a three-way tie for first place in the Angelus League.

Earlier in the season, Loyola defeated Mater Dei and Bishop Amat beat Loyola, so all three teams finished with 3-1 league records. A coin flip by league officials last week awarded Loyola the league’s No. 1 entry and made Bishop Amat No. 2 in the case of a tie after last weekend’s final games of the regular season.

Loyola, the defending division champion and third-seeded team in the playoffs, will play host to Saugus in a first-round opener. Fourth-seeded Bishop Amat plays host to Antelope Valley.

“I’m surprised and shocked that we drew Quartz Hill,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “But it’s the kiss of death on a coin flip.”

Top-ranked Rialto Eisenhower is the top-seeded team in Division I. Fontana is seeded No. 2.

Other No. 1-seeded teams include Simi Valley Royal in Division II; Anaheim Esperanza in Division III; Moreno Valley Canyon Springs in Division IV; Corona in Division V; Valencia in Division VI; Artesia in Division VII; Atascadero in Division VIII; Big Bear in Division IX and Santa Ana Calvary Chapel in Division X.

Defending Division X champion Van Nuys Montclair Prep probably would have been the top-seeded team, but it is ineligible for postseason competition the next two years for illegally recruiting players two years ago.

The football committee said its most difficult task this weekend was deciding at-large entries. Most divisions have one at-large slot.

Notable teams missing from the playoffs include Anaheim Servite (6-4) in Division I, Hemet (6-4) in Division IV and Costa Mesa Estancia (6-3-1) in Division VII.

Independent teams Rancho Santa Margarita (6-3-1) and Palmdale Highland (9-1) both qualified for the playoffs.

Santa Margarita plays at Colton in Division V, and Highland plays at Tehachapi in Division IX.