Blocked Kick Becomes Mater Dei’s Big Break

It’s been a long time since Mater Dei had as difficult a season opener as Saturday’s game against Fresno Clovis West.

And it’s doubtful the Monarchs, who prevailed, 21-14, in front of an estimated 4,000 at Santa Ana Stadium, ever found a crazier way to win.

With the score tied, 14-14, and 9:17 left to play in the fourth quarter, the Monarchs lined up at the Spartans’ nine-yard line for a field-goal attempt. The kick was blocked, but holder (and quarterback) Scott Lukash caught the ball in midair and raced through the startled Clovis West defense for the deciding touchdown.

“As I held the ball I saw a hand coming at me and thought, ‘Shoot, it’s going to be blocked,’ ” said Lukash, who completed 13 of 15 passes for 169 yards. “I just reached up and caught it. Everyone was baffled, looking for the ball.”

The Spartans, whose quickly paced wing-T offense churned out 264 rushing yards and held a 14-7 lead on the Monarchs early in the third quarter, had one last opportunity to tie the score.

With 2:04 to play, Spartan running back Michael Melikian (151 yards) broke loose from the Clovis West 23 and was run down 67 yards later at the Mater Dei 10. The Spartans took four shots at the Monarchs’ end zone but couldn’t get in; their final pass hit the ground with 42 seconds left.

Only then could Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson--who won his 100th game (against 17 losses and a tie)--exhale.

“They are very good,” Rollinson said. “We kept pounding at them and I knew the kids would figure a way to win. I can’t say we ever practice that [winning] play. Sometimes you have to be lucky.”

There was a new wrinkle to the Monarch offense. Over the summer, the coaching staff installed several option plays, a few of which worked like quarterback Matt Grootegood’s 30-yard scamper in the second quarter. But it was also apparent there are still bugs to work out. Lukash lost eight yards and a fumble in the first quarter, and the offensive line was flagged several times for mistiming the snap count.

Those errors, plus two fumbles, kept Mater Dei--who had 406 total yards to Clovis West’s 309--from gaining control.

“We’ll eliminate those mistakes,” Rollinson said. “I was very proud of the defense. They came up big when they had to.”

The first quarter was scoreless as both teams tried to get a feel for the other. The second quarter was also a struggle, but each team came up with one touchdown.

Mater Dei scored first. Junior Palacios (164 yards rushing) began the 60-yard, three play drive with a 46-yard burst up the heart of the Spartans’ defense, and followed with another 12-yard run to position the Monarchs at the Clovis West two-yard line. Ray Gilbert ran it into the end zone.