ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: PREP EXTRA : Mater Dei Earns Share of League Championship

Mater Dei won a coin toss with South Coast League tri-champions Capistrano Valley and San Clemente Friday, guaranteeing that the Monarchs would go to the playoffs as the league’s top team.

All the Monarchs had to do Friday night was beat winless Mission Viejo to complete the deal.

The Monarchs proved to be winners both on and off the field, taking advantage of four Mission Viejo turnovers and scoring 21 unanswered points in the second quarter on the way to a 34-16 victory at Mission Viejo High School.

“We kind of practiced through this one,” said Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson.

Mater Dei (9-1) finished 4-1 in league, sharing the championship with Capistrano Valley and San Clemente, who won their season finales Thursday night.

With the score tied, 7-7, after the first quarter, Mater Dei scored 14 points in 26 seconds. The first score came after Brian Manibusan recovered a Diablo fumble at the Mission Viejo 21, and Nick Stremick threw 21 yards to Rod Fraser for the touchdown.

On Mission Viejo’s next play from scrimmage, Brad Williams intercepted a Greg Carr pass and returned it 20 yards for the score. Stremick threw to Ryan Buccola for a two-point conversion to make the score 21-7 and the Monarchs coasted.