Mater Dei on Roll, Defeats L.A. Loyola

Mater Dei might not be ready for a return trip to the Southern Section finals, but the Monarchs appear to be on a roll. Mater Dei won its fourth consecutive game with a 14-7 victory over Los Angeles Loyola Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium before an estimated 8,000 spectators.

The Monarchs moved the ball at will in the first half, but didn’t have much to show for it. They led only 7-0 despite holding the Cubs to 22 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 piled up 200 yards and 12 first downs. Halfback Junior Palacios had a busy but unproductive half. He carried 17 times for 73 yards. But he was stopped once on fourth down at the Loyola 23 and fumbled a handoff from quarterback Matt Leinart at the Loyola 25 that was recovered by Loyola lineman Josh Quaye.

Palacios (96 yards, 23 rushes) was also unlucky. He returned the opening kickoff 99 yards, twisting and weaving through Loyola defenders. But the touchdown was called back because of a clipping penalty at the Mater Dei 22. Palacios was finally rewarded for his efforts with 9:28 left in the half. He scored from the two-yard line, capping a 71-yard, 10-play drive. The big play was a 28-yard pass from Leinart to tight end Justin Gruettke that gave the Monarchs a first down at the Loyola 20.

Loyola opened the second half by driving to the Mater Dei 14, but a sack and a wayward 46-yard field-goal attempt ended the Cubs’ first threat. Mater Dei countered with an 80-yard scoring drive in five plays. Palacios’ second touchdown of the night--a nine-yard run on a draw--was set up by a 41-yard play-action pass from Leinart to Nick Stroffe.

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 in the game.

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

Mater Dei begins Serra League play next Thursday against Servite at Santa Ana Stadium.

“This was the pivotal game,” Rollinson said. “We’re starting to come around.”

But it appears the Monarchs have lost starting nose guard Trevor Hovarter, who was helped off the field in the first half and taken to the hospital after suffering a severe injury to his left knee.