THE PREPS : Mater Dei Passes Irvine Test : Football: Perry helps ignite the Monarchs’ comeback with key pass receptions and a punt return.

For the second consecutive year, Irvine had Mater Dei struggling for a half--the first one.

And for the second consecutive year, the Monarchs were able to right themselves in the second half. This time it was good for a 28-14 victory Saturday before an estimated 5,000 at Irvine.

Mater Dei (4-0) had 153 yards in penalties--including several unsportsmanlike conduct infractions, one of them kicking a penalty flag and complaining about a call.

Irvine (2-2) had 95 yards in penalties.

Between stoppages, the Monarchs spotted Irvine a two-touchdown lead before responding with 28 unanswered points, with 21 coming in the second half.

The catalyst was receiver Rod Perry Jr., who had 75 yards in receptions, rushed for 34 yards in three carries, scored the Monarchs’ first touchdown to cut Irvine’s lead at halftime to 14-7, and whose 19-yard punt return midway through the third quarter positioned Mater Dei at the Vaqueros 37-yard line.

From there the Monarchs would score the go-ahead touchdown.

Perry didn’t have to do it all. Running back James Farley, making his first start since recovering from a knee injury, had 84 yards in 15 carries and two touchdowns. Receiver David Castleton caught four passes for 68 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass from Nick Stremick, who passed for 168 yards despite three interceptions.

“We’re still in the situation where our offense is not hitting on all cylinders,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “We’ll hit a couple of big plays, then on the next play nine guys do their job, the 10th guy kinda does his job and the 11th guy is out to lunch.”

With 9:08 to play in first half, the Monarchs found themselves trailing, 14-0, and had no one to blame but themselves.

The second of two first-quarter fumbles gave Irvine excellent field position at the Mater Dei 12. Three plays later, Russ Diehl dived over the goal line from a yard to put the Vaqueros ahead, 7-0.

On its first possession in the second quarter Irvine drove 57 yards for its second score. Quarterback Jared Flint sprinted in from four yards, allowing Irvine to be the first team to score more than seven points against the Monarchs this season. Mater Dei helped out with a pass interference call that took the Vaqueros to the five.

Mater Dei desperately needed a lift, and Perry provided the spark. He started the Monarchs’ 80-yard touchdown march with 21-yard dash on a reverse, then used the same play to score from eight yards with 5:10 left in the half. Perry also caught two passes for 10 and 24 yards on the drive.