No. 1 in Nation, No. 2 in Division : Prep football: Rialto Eisenhower falls to Mater Dei, 35-14, in championship game. Blanton throws three touchdown passes.

With a national championship on the line, Rialto Eisenhower High Coach Tom Hoak decided to take a gamble on a seldom-used passing game Friday night.

The gamble backfired, and Santa Ana Mater Dei ran away with a 35-14 victory in the Southern Section Division I championship Friday night at Anaheim Stadium.

Before 33,204, the Eagles never established their passing game and had little luck with their normally reliable running game.

The result was their first loss of the season in 14 games. Entering the game, Eisenhower was the No. 1-ranked team in the nation by USA Today and the Associated Press.

Mater Dei, which also finished 13-1, probably will move into the national rankings Monday. It was the team’s first section title since 1965, when it beat Compton Centennial, 21-0.

The game figured to be close, with Eisenhower’s running game pitted against Mater Dei’s passing game. There was so much interest in the match-up that officials delayed the kickoff 30 minutes to accommodate all the fans waiting in ticket lines.

The attendance was the second best in section history in championship games, third best overall.

But the expected scenario never materialized. For Eisenhower, things went from bad to worse.

Eagle quarterback Jevon Hicks completed eight of 17 passes for 63 yards before leaving because of a possible broken leg early in the third quarter. Hicks went out after throwing an interception to back Brian Barajas, who returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. That gave the Monarchs a 21-6 lead.

Hicks’ backup, sophomore Glenn Thompkins, had little more success. Although he had a 76-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the game to make the score 21-14, he later fumbled once and threw an interception.

Eisenhower running back Omar Love, who entered the game with 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns, finished with 72 yards in 13 carries and no touchdowns.

Eisenhower finished with 284 yards in 35 attempts, but lost three fumbles.

“We just self-destructed,” Love said. “(Passing) was part of our game plan tonight. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the ball more.”

Mater Dei quarterback Billy Blanton completed 15 of 25 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns.

“We tried to come out low-profile,” Blanton said. “We let them do what they wanted to do before the game.”

Two of those touchdowns were to senior receiver Roger Morante on plays of 33 and 34 yards. Morante finished with five receptions for 107 yards.

Eisenhower outgained Mater Dei in total yards in the first half, 187-154, but the Monarchs made the big plays.

On its second possession, Mater Dei ran a flea-flicker play, Blanton connecting with David Knuff for a 49-yard touchdown. Knuff reached above two defenders for the ball.

The Eagles responded by driving 80 yards in seven plays, the key play a 35-yard run by Marcus Soward. Hicks scored on a one-yard run, but Robert Talley missed the extra point and Eisenhower trailed, 7-6.

During the second quarter, Blanton found Morante alone in the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown and a 14-6 lead.