PREP EXTRA / SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I : Mater Dei Surprises Coach With Big Victory

It’s not often Coach Bruce Rollinson is rendered speechless after a game. But Mater Dei nearly did it to him Friday night in the opening round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

The Monarchs scored on nine of 11 possessions, and the defense made all the big plays. That resulted in a 53-13 thrashing of Redlands in front of 5,000 at Orange Coast College.

“I’m shocked. I’m not prepared to talk about a one-sided game,” Rollinson said. “Nobody has stopped them all season. I’m very pleased with the defense and offensive.”

Second-seeded Mater Dei (11-0) will meet Loyola, a 34-8 winner over Lakewood, in the quarterfinals. The Monarchs were unstoppable. The only two times they didn’t score came on a missed 50-yard field goal and a final possession that ended on downs.

Monarchs running backs Steve Bodnar and Joey Trampush each scored twice. Bodnar rushed for 91 yards and Trampush 78. Quarterback John Flynn threw for two touchdowns, completing 12 of 19 for 159 yards.

The only time the Terriers (5-6) threatened to make it a game came on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Nick Day to Johnny Fultz that gave them a 7-3 lead seven minutes into the game.

Mater Dei scored 10 points in the final 1:17 of the first half, then broke the game open to start the second. Jeremy McGlasson forced a fumble by sacking Day and two plays later, Bodnar scored from the one. Jeff Felix then tackled the Terrier punter in the end zone for a safety and a 36-7 lead.

Rollinson removed his starters with 1:14 left in the third quarter.

“We talk about playing on Thanksgiving,” he said. “Now it’s down to three (games). We’ll see what happens.”