Rovira’s Block Saves the Day for Mater Dei

Steve Bodnar hobbled off the field, nursing his sore right ankle. John Flynn just wheezed a sigh of relief that no one was chasing him any more.

Both had overcome and endured in Mater Dei’s 17-14 victory over Long Beach Poly Friday night in Santa Ana Stadium.

Linebacker Mike Rovira deflected Ryan Downey’s 32-yard field-goal attempt with 30 seconds left to preserve the victory and put the Monarchs into the Southern Section Division I semifinals against Antelope Valley, an upset winner over top-seeded Bishop Amat.

It was Downey’s second try. He hit a 27-yard field goal moments before, only to have it waved off because of a penalty.

When his second try was tipped, Bodnar and Flynn finally had a moment to rest.

“That was an adrenaline rush,” said Bodnar, a junior running back. “That’s all I was playing on.”

And about all he had left at the end.

Bodnar had fumbled twice. He had also gained 130 yards and set up the game-winning touchdown with a 57-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

He did so on an ankle that was so sore that he was not expected to play.

Said Coach Bruce Rollinson: “To be honest, I felt if he played, it was going to be a bonus.”

A big one, as it turned out.

Bodnar gained 122 yards in the second half. Most came on his 57-yarder, as he bobbed and weaved his way to the nine-yard line with 6 minutes 34 seconds left.

One play later, Flynn hit tight end Leie Sualua on a delay pattern for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Monarchs the lead. It was only the second touchdown pass against Poly this season.

“We put that play in this week,” Flynn said. “Poly has great speed. We saw how their linebackers just fly out on plays. We used their speed to beat them.”

Until then, the Jackrabbits’ speed had beaten Flynn, quite literally at times. Poly’s defensive front, led by Brandon Whiting and Danjuan Magee, pursued Flynn from the start. At times, the junior didn’t have a chance to throw. At times, he couldn’t get rid of the ball fast enough.

Flynn completed three of 12 passes for 38 yards.

“There were times when we had receivers open and he didn’t get them the ball,” Rollinson said. “But you look at the entire 48 minutes, then you see what a job he did. He called audibles almost the entire second half.”

Flynn found holes in a defense that had given up little this season. Mater Dei gained 284 yards rushing.

“We have the best offensive line around,” Flynn said. “I have total confidence in them.”

But not as much as Rollinson had in the defense.

The Monarchs (11-1) turned the ball over four times on fumbles and also had a field goal blocked. Yet, the defense kept them in the game.

Poly (10-2) moved into Mater Dei territory six times, but scored only two touchdowns. Downey missed field goals of 43 and 36 yards.

The Jackrabbits lost quarterback Robert Toler for most of the second half because of a knee injury. He threw for 72 yards and one touchdown. Daniel Ho-Ching replaced Toler, but was two of six for 34 yards.

But it was Ho-Ching who got the Jackrabbits close at the end. He scrambled for 14 yards, then completed a 22-yard pass to Andre Harrison with a minute left.

It got the Jackrabbits into field-goal range, where Rovira was waiting.

“The whole time they were driving, I knew it was going to come down to a big play by me,” Rovira said. “We had to win. We had endured too much.”