There’s Something New in This Mater Dei Win

Nothing was going to stop Mater Dei kicker Bryan New with the game on the line this time.

Not the Los Angeles Loyola fans’ chants of “De La Salle! De La Salle!” Not the Cubs’ three interminable timeouts, called in an attempt to rattle the kicker who had already missed one fourth-quarter field goal. And especially not the 31-yard attempt he faced with five seconds left.

New’s kick sailed through the uprights with no time remaining, giving Mater Dei a 24-21 victory over Loyola on Saturday before an overflow crowd of 7,000 at Glendale High.

“I live for this type of stuff,” New said. “This is what I do best, and I got my chance to do it.”

Before Saturday, New was best known for a 34-yard attempt that he missed in Week 3 against Concord De La Salle, the nation’s top-ranked team. That kick could have given Mater Dei a tie and ended the Spartans’ national-record winning streak at 102 games.

Now some fans will remember New, a senior, for the first game-winning kick of his career.

“I thought it was spectacular,” said Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson, who hoisted a Monarch helmet high in the air in celebration. “The kids knew he was going to make it.”

New’s kick was the difference in an otherwise evenly played game. Mater Dei (6-1) ruled the time of possession battle, but Loyola (6-1) scored two quick-strike touchdowns that were equally effective.

After New missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt with 2 minutes 42 seconds remaining, the Cubs took over at their own 20-yard line. But Mater Dei defensive back Brown Faavae stripped the ball from Loyola quarterback Matt Ware two plays later, and linebacker Grant Melton recovered at the 18.

A pass interference call against the Cubs gave Mater Dei a first down at the 9, but the Monarchs’ drive stalled, setting the stage for New.

“I just tried to block out [distractions for] that last kick as much as possible,” New said. “I tried to stay calm. It was a good snap, a good hold--there you go.”

If Mater Dei wins its remaining three games, the Monarchs will likely enter the Southern Section Division I playoffs seeded No. 1 or No. 2. Mater Dei was ranked second in the division coming into Saturday’s game, and Loyola was ranked third.

Mater Dei quarterback Matt Leinart, who completed 16 of 24 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown, scored the tying touchdown on a one-yard run midway through the third quarter. He rolled left, faked a pass to freeze a defender and ran into the end zone, and New’s conversion made it 21-21.

Rafael Rice ran 80 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half to give Loyola a 21-14 lead.

Mater Dei led, 14-7, late in the second quarter and was in great position to add some cushion after holding Loyola deep in its own territory.

But the Monarchs self-destructed, committing a clipping penalty on the punt return and committing three more penalties for an additional 25 yards on their ensuing drive. Mater Dei had to punt from its own 12-yard line and the Cubs took over at the Monarch 43 with 32 seconds left.

Loyola quickly drove to the 17, from where Ware ran for the tying score, plunging past three defenders near the goal line and into the end zone as time expired in the second quarter.

Ware finished with 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns--one a 94-yard run--in 10 carries and completed six of 16 passes for 75 yards.