Mater Dei Defense Can’t Stop De La Salle

Concord De La Salle had averaged 48 points during its national record 78-game winning streak.

It had lit up two powers, Grass Valley Nevada Union and Bakersfield, for 48 points each.

But Mater Dei held the Spartans to 20 points fewer than their average. Still, it wasn’t enough to pull the plug on De La Salle’s winning streak as the Spartans scored a 28-21 victory in front of 20,781 at Edison Field.

De La Salle (3-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, extended its winning streak to 79. Mater Dei, ranked No. 2 in Orange County, dropped to 2-1.

The key to Mater Dei’s success--if it were to have any hope of strangling the Spartans’ veer offense--rested with the defense.

In particular, Mater Dei needed big nights--and big plays--from linebacker Kevin Mitchell, safeties Matt Grootegoed and Dusty Ishii, nose guard Ken Ouk and defensive ends Lenny Vandermade and Matt Franz.

And though they had their moments, De La Salle had just too much to contain.

After holding De La Salle on the first two drives of the second half and Mater Dei having forged a 21-21 tie, Atari Callen broke the Monarchs’ back.

On third down and 32 from the Spartans’ 19-yard line, Callen went up the middle and bounced outside for a 58-yard gain. Three plays later, De La Salle scored to take a 28-21 lead.

The defensive game plan called for the Monarchs to shut down the dive play, limit the Spartans on first down and prevent the big play.

They had only moderate success.

As De La Salle took a 21-7 halftime lead on drives of 66, 62 and 72 yards, the Spartans’ offense averaged 8.7 yards on first down and outgained the Monarchs, 250-24, in the first half.

“We weren’t closing the dive down fast enough,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “I don’t know why. Two of those touchdowns, we just didn’t make the play.”

But the defensive line, which lined up too wide, made the adjustment after the early deficit.

After falling behind, the defense gave up only 3.2 yards on first down.

In fact, it was the defense that helped get Mater Dei on the scoreboard, stopping Genos Williams on a dive and forcing the ball from his hands. The ball squirted to the 11, where Junior Palacios recovered. The next play, Matt Grootegoed rushed for the touchdown to make it 7-7.