Mater Dei Finally Gives Fans a Reason to Relax

A sense of urgency spilled over the Mater Dei crowd during halftime and into the third quarter Friday night. Long Beach Jordan was too close for comfort, and the Monarchs weren’t doing much about it.

But Rod Perry never flinched and his three second-half touchdown receptions sparked the Monarchs to a 48-21 victory over Jordan in a Southern Section Division I first-round game at Santa Ana Stadium.

“We came out flat, which is kind of uncharacteristic for us,” Perry said. “We were able to put it together somewhat in the second half, but we can still play better.”

The Monarchs (11-0), who will play Redlands in the second round, led by only six at the half, but appeared to take control after stopping Jordan (5-6) on its opening possession and then scoring on James Farley’s 37-yard touchdown run to go up, 28-15.

However, Jordan’s Bobby Mitchell returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and the Panthers were back within a touchdown, 28-21, with 6:55 left in the third quarter.

Perry, who had only touched the ball twice to that point, gave Mater Dei some breathing room less than a minute later when he gathered in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Nick Stremick.

Mitchell then came close to returning a second kickoff, but he was brought down by kicker Matt Grootegoed at the Mater Dei 45. The Monarchs then stopped Jordan’s Raheem Elliott a yard short on fourth and two to take possession.

Perry and Stremick needed just two plays to add to the lead as Perry ran under a 64-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-21.