Sophomore Quarterback Leads Mater Dei Rout

Some bad news developed for South Coast League football teams Friday night.

Powerful Mater Dei found a new quarterback who should give opposing teams fits for the next couple of seasons.

Coach Bruce Rollinson, upset with a sluggish offense, handed the quarterback reins to sophomore John Flynn Friday night. Flynn responded by leading the Monarchs to a 38-3 romp over host El Toro at Trabuco Hills High School.

Flynn completed 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns. He probably wouldn’t have even played but regular Derrek Uhl was ineffective last week as the Monarchs (7-1-1, 3-1-1) suffered their first loss, falling, 13-12, to Dana Hills.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done is switch quarterbacks,” Rollinson said. “I felt we needed a spark. . . . Needless to say, it looked like a good move tonight.”

Flynn, sounding more mature than a sophomore, credited his line for his success.

“They did an excellent job,” said the 6-foot, 162-pound Flynn. “There was no pressure passing at all.”

Also helping alleviate the pressure on Flynn was hefty running back Nickey Sualua, who at 245 pounds was too much of a load for El Toro. Sualua gained 95 yards in 11 carries, most of it coming on runs up the middle.

“The line opened up holes any running back could go through,” said Sualua, who saw limited action against Dana Hills because of a sore ankle.

El Toro had problems from the start. On the third play of the game, quarterback Bryan Lefevers was intercepted by Michael-John Rzeznik. Four plays later, Flynn hooked up with Robert Molina on a 16-yard pass and Mater Dei led, 7-0.

Mater Dei went up, 14-0, late in the first quarter on a three-yard touchdown pass from Flynn to Derrick Ford.

El Toro (2-7, 0-5) got a boost from six Mater Dei penalties in the second quarter, but when the Chargers failed to score on a 17-play drive, it seemed obvious who would win.

The Chargers finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Jason Pitts. The score was set up by the strong running of Jeff Brizic, who finished with 57 yards in 17 carries.

Despite El Toro’s record, Rollinson said he was relieved to get by the Chargers.

“This was a pivotal game for us,” Rollinson said.