Eisenhower Dances Past Mater Dei : Division I: Monarchs’ 56-3 loss is the second-biggest in section history.

They were dancing on the Rialto Eisenhower sideline. Running back Marlon Farlow was even handing out presents. It was party time Friday night.

Mater Dei was there to foot the bill.

Long before Eisenhower’s 56-3 victory in the Southern Section Division I championship game, Farlow and Co. started to enjoy themselves. They had not only won the first football championship in the school’s history, they had done so in style, crushing the Monarchs from the start.

A crowd of 15,328 at Anaheim Stadium witnessed a severe beating by Eisenhower (14-0). It was the second largest margin of victory in section history.

Farlow plans to remember for a long time. He even walked away with souvenirs, the three footballs he had scored touchdowns with.

“This one’s for my mom, this one’s for my dad and this one’s for me,” Farlow said. “I tell you, I went out with a bang.”

Farlow was the life of party, on and off the field. He gained 200 yards in 13 carries, scoring on runs of three, 40 and 93 yards. Those numbers would normally stand out. But he was one of the crowd for the Eagles, the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, according to USA Today.

Quarterback Glenn Thompkins carved up the Monarchs in a variety of ways. He threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns--all of which were 46 yards or more. He also scored on a 72-yard run.

Wide receiver R.J. Soward caught two passes--both touchdowns--for 109 yards.

It just seemed easy.

“The holes were so wide, I thought, ‘Dang, I’m getting into the end zone every time,’ ” Farlow said. “When I hit the secondary, I was gone. I thought it was going to be a little tougher than that.”

He wasn’t alone.

Mater Dei (12-2) had gotten this far with a solid defense that created opportunities. The Monarchs had done what was necessary to through three playoff games. Friday, they did everything they could to lose.

The Monarchs turned over the ball five times. Four of those turnovers led to scores, including a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown by Walter Ford. Eisenhower didn’t need that much help.

This was not how the Monarchs wanted to return to the title game. Two years ago, they routed Eisenhower, 35-14.

“To be honest, I can’t tell you what happened,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “It just got out of hand.”

And did from the start.

Thompkins threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Soward on the Eagles’ first possession. Thompkins rolled right, then scrambled left. He stopped and threw deep to Soward, who was well covered by Kevin Braga. But Braga got turned around and Soward made the catch and stepped into the end zone.

It was downhill from there.

“They didn’t have it in their eyes,” Thompkins said. “I saw that during the coin toss. You know how a boxer has those killer eyes. They didn’t. I knew they were scared.”

There was a lot to be frightened of. Oh, Mater Dei did move the ball well, especially on the ground. Running back Steve Bodnar gained 95 yards in 18 carries and Joey Trampush had 62 yards in 12 carries.

But while the Monarchs were trying to grind it out, the Eagles were waiting for the big play. They got them, as seven of their eight touchdowns were 40 yards or more.

Mater Dei ran 34 plays in the first half. Eisenhower ran 20. But five of the Eagles’ plays went for touchdowns and they averaged 11.7 yards per play.

Farlow made it 13-0 with a three-yard run with three minutes left in the first quarter. He went 40 yards with nine seconds left in the quarter and the rout was on.

The Eagles scored the first four times they had the ball. Mater Dei attempted a fake punt on their first possession, but Ford broke up the pass. Mater Dei turned the ball over on its next three possessions.

By halftime, Eisenhower led, 35-3. The Eagles finished with 463 yards.

In the end, there was plenty to celebrate.

“All we thought about from the beginning of the season was those rings,” Soward said. “We wanted championship rings on our fingers and nothing was going to stand in our way.”

Certainly not Mater Dei.