Mater Dei Survives Real Test

Unbeaten and top-ranked Mater Dei survived a 213-yard rushing effort by Malaefou Mackenzie and held off Capistrano Valley, 20-15, Friday night at Capistrano Valley.

The Monarchs (10-0, 5-0) not only won their fifth consecutive South Coast League championship, but also in all probability secured the top seed in the Division I playoffs, which begin next Friday.

The Cougars finished the year 7-3, 4-1.

Mackenzie’s 80-yard touchdown run with less than six minutes to play brought Capistrano Valley, which never led, as close as it would get to Mater Dei. But the Monarchs could not relax until Cougars Austin Moherman threw an incomplete fourth-down pass with 10 seconds left. Disaster loomed for Capistrano Valley on the first play when Charlie Landrigan fumbled and Mater Dei defensive back Joey Boese recovered at the Cougar 23.

James Farley took it from there, blowing through the middle of the Capistrano Valley defensive wall and stopping 23 yards later for his 13th touchdown. The extra point was missed, but the Monarchs were quickly ahead, 6-0.

Capistrano Valley took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Mater Dei four only to stall. Matt Donoho rewarded the 68-yard, nine-play drive with a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead in half.

Midway though the first quarter, though, both defenses had settled down and settled in, making opportunities few and far between.