DIVISION I : Eisenhower to Mater Dei: ‘It’s Our Turn’

Marlon Farlow, Rialto Eisenhower running back, did his own public countdown on the 20-yard line. When the final 10 seconds expired, he raced up field and fell to the ground in celebration.

Two years of frustration had been let out.

With a 19-3 victory over Mater Dei in front of 8,500 Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium, the Eagles had finally removed that pesky roadblock. It got them to the semifinals of the Division I playoffs.

“This one was for the seniors,” said Farlow, a junior. “They have had two years of getting close. This is the pay-back.”

The Eagles and Monarchs had crossed paths in each of the last two seasons. Both times, Eisenhower was the No. 1-ranked team. Both times Mater Dei won, including a 35-14 pasting in the title game last season.

But this time, the Eagles made certain they got past the Monarchs.

“I know that makes a good story, but the past two years didn’t really have much to do with this,” Eagle Coach Tom Hoak said.

Hoak should have checked with his players.

“Our theme this week was, ‘Reverse This,’ ” defensive tackle Germaine Gray said. “It was our turn.”

Gray and the defense made sure of it. They crumpled the Monarchs’ already shaky offense.

Mater Dei gained 232 yards, but generally could not budge the Eagles.

The Monarchs moved on their first possession, getting to the Eisenhower eight. But quarterback John Flynn was sacked by Damon Turpin on third down and Brandon Smallwood’s 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

On their next possession, the Monarchs got close enough for Smallwood to nail a 47-yard field goal. That was the extent of the Mater Dei offense.

Part of the Monarchs ineffectiveness was due to the loss of running back Nickey Sualua, the team’s leading rusher. He scored six touchdowns in a 40-0 victory over Encino Crespi, but left Friday after one carry with a sprained ankle.

“That killed us,” Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “There was no way we could make up for him.”

Brian Hall did gain 82 yards rushing, but the bulk of the offense fell on Flynn’s shoulders. Flynn, a sophomore, was making only his fourth start--and it showed. He was chased and smothered by the Eagle defense.

He completed 18 of 32 passes for 146 yards, but had two passes intercepted. Flynn also fumbled once.

The Eagles’ offense could little as well, at least through the first half. The gained only 67 yards, all on the ground.

Eisenhower led, 6-3, at the half, thanks to a nine-yard run by Damond Wilkins on a fake field-goal attempt. It was the first touchdown scored on the Monarchs in four games.

But, in the second half, Farlow and fullback Julius McChristian began to find running room.

Farlow gained 136 yards, 111 in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, he burst through the middle, side-stepped two defenders, and went 78 yards to give the Eagles a 12-3 lead and a little breathing room.

“They kept stopping us and stopping us,” Farlow said. “But I knew I just had to keep sticking my head in there and I’d break one.”

McChristian did likewise. Late in the fourth quarter, he slipped through the left side and 43 yards for a touchdown and the end of the Mater Dei jinx.

“It felt good to finally beat these guys,” Farlow said.

MD--FG Smallwood 47

E--Wilkins 9 run (pass failed)

E--Farlow 78 run (pass failed)

E--McChristian 43 run (Freeman kick)

LEADING RUSHERS--E: Farlow 15-136; MD: Hall 18-82. LEADING PASSERS--E: Okayama 0-5-0, 0; MD: Flynn 18-32-2, 146. LEADING RECEIVERS--E: none; MD: Molina 7-52.

Attendance--8,500.