Dana Hills Finds Hope, Loses to Mater Dei

The Dana Hills’ football program got a glimpse of a promising future despite losing to Mater Dei, 35-7, Friday night in a South Coast League game at Dana Hills High.

Sophomore Jeremy Walker took over at quarterback for senior Aaron Kaufman and faced top-ranked Monarchs (7-0, 2-0).

His nerves got the best of him and caused some mistakes early, including a fumble on first and 10 from the Mater Dei 19. However Dana Hills Coach Scott Orloff was pleased with Walker’s effort.

“I knew he was going to be nervous,” Orloff said. “But he showed a lot of poise. He is going to be a great quarterback for us. This game, going up against a team like this, is going to give him confidence. He earned this job and I’m very happy with him.”

Walker, who led the junior varsity to a 6-0 record this season, completed seven of 14 passes for 64 yards. Two of his passes were intercepted, the first one leading to a Mater Dei touchdown early in the second quarter. Three plays after Kevin Mitchell intercepted the ball on Dana Hills 15, Mike McNair ran two yards to give the Monarchs a 21-0 lead with 3 minutes 49 seconds left in the half.

The Monarchs went 80 yards in 13 plays on their opening drive, taking using 10 minutes before scoring on James Farley’s three-yard run.

Farley put Mater Dei up 14-0, on the Monarchs’ next possession. After taking the handoff from quarterback Nick Stremick, Farley went to his right and then cut back to the opposite sideline, taking the ball 40 yards to the Dolphin 5. On the next play Farley scored with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.

Mater Dei scored on its next drive with a 29-yard pass from Stremick to Rod Perry to make it 28-0.

Dana Hills (3-4, 0-2) scored when David Katcef intercepted a John Leonard pass and ran the ball back 97 yards.