Loyola Can’t Stop Mater Dei

Mater Dei might not be quite ready to return to the Southern Section finals, but the Monarchs appear to be on a roll, winning their fourth consecutive game with a 14-7 victory over Loyola on Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium before an estimated crowd of 8,000.

The Monarchs moved the ball at will in the first half, but didn’t have much to show for their efforts. They only led, 7-0, despite holding the Cubs to 22 total yards and one first down in 14 plays.

“I was very concerned,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “I’ve been down this road before.”

Mater Dei (4-2) piled up 200 yards and 12 first downs. Halfback Junior Palacios had a busy but unproductive half, carrying 17 times for 73 yards. But he was stopped once on fourth down at the Loyola 23 and he fumbled a handoff from quarterback Matt Leinart at the Loyola 25 that was recovered by Loyola lineman Josh Quaye.

Palacios, who finished with 96 yards in 23 carries, was finally rewarded for his efforts with 9:28 left in the half when he scored from the two-yard line, capping a 71-yard, 10-play drive.

Palacios’ second touchdown--a nine-yard run on a draw--was set up by a 41-yard play-action pass from Leinart to Nick Stroffe during a five-play, 80-yard drive in the third quarter.

Loyola (4-3) closed to 14-7 by driving 81 yards in 12 plays. The drive was capped by Justin Wesson’s four-yard run with 11:09 left.

Loyola had two more chances to score, but Mater Dei’s pass rush disrupted junior quarterback Matt Ware. Ware was sacked three times in the fourth quarter and Loyola never reached midfield again.