Uhl and Barajas Help Lead Mater Dei Past St. Paul

After settling for a scoreless tie last week against Servite, Mater Dei fared better against another former Angelus League opponent Friday night. The Monarchs defeated St. Paul, 31-21, in a nonleague game at Cranham Stadium.

Mater Dei broke a 14-14 tie with 2:50 left in the first half on a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Uhl to tight end Derrick Ford. The Monarchs broke open the game early in the third quarter after an interception by Ray Jackson led to a one-yard touchdown run by Moses Vasquez.

The St. Paul offense was paced by running back Morris Luevano, who rushed for a game-high 170 yards in 27 carries and scored three touchdowns.

Luevano gave St. Paul an early 7-0 lead on a nine-yard scoring run. The Monarchs answered with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter with a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown by Brian Barajas.

Luevano and Barajas exchanged second-quarter touchdowns as well. Luevano gave the Swordsmen the lead again on a 10-yard run with 9:00 left in the first half, with Barajas on the receiving end of a 33-yard touchdown pass from Uhl.

Vasquez paced the Mater Dei (1-0-1) offense with 115 yards in 15 carries. St. Paul (0-2) had 210 yards offense. Mater Dei had 253 yards total offense.