A LITTLE HISTORY

1951--It took a year and a half, but Mater Dei finally posted its first victory, a 12-0 decision over Flintridge St. Francis, in its sixth game of the season. The previous year, a team composed of freshmen and sophomores was winless in its first season in the Parochial League.

1960--Servite’s first Southern Section championship came in its first varsity season before the school had its first senior class. After posting a 6-2-1 record, the Friars entered the Small School playoffs and knocked off Needles and Tehachapi, before tying Santa Ynez, 26-26, to share the title.

1989--Santa Margarita was placed in the Olympic League for its first varsity season, but without a senior class, the Eagles could manage only a third-place finish. They did advance to the second round of the Division IX playoffs, however, and finished 8-4.

1999 IN REVIEW

Mater Dei dominated the inaugural season of the Serra League, outlasting Servite, 39-25, before shutting out Bellflower St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita. That followed victories over two other traditional Catholic school rivals, Santa Fe Springs St. Paul and Los Angeles Loyola, as well as a 42-0 loss to Concord De La Salle, the state’s top-rated team. . . . Matt Grootegoed, Mater Dei’s two-way back who is now at USC, was the league’s most valuable player. . . . Servite came back to defeat Santa Margarita during Week 10, 31-27, when quarterback Adam Ernst scored the winning touchdown with 10 seconds to play, creating a three-way tie for second place. A coin flip sent Santa Margarita to the playoffs. . . . In the Division I championship game, Mater Dei lost Grootegoed to an injury early and trailed top-seeded Long Beach Poly by 11 points at the half. But Bryan New’s 30-yard field goal with 7:45 to play gave Mater Dei a 21-21 tie and a share of the championship, the Monarchs’ fifth of the decade.

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STANDINGS W L T W L T TP PA Mater Dei 3 0 0 11 2 1 400 192 St. John Bosco 1 2 0 3 7 0 165 261 Santa Margarita 1 2 0 6 5 0 264 292 Servite 1 2 0 6 4 0 233 247

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Leaders

Statistics include regular-season games for county schools only

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PASSING Att CP TD Yds Leinart, Mater Dei 150 93 12 1,562 Ernst, Servite 176 81 11 1,197 Rix, Santa Margarita 157 74 3 937

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RUSHING Att Yds Avg TD Palacios, Mater Dei 161 884 5.5 11 Herzog, Santa Margarita 147 833 5.7 11 Thompson, S. Margarita 65 785 12.1 8

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RECEIVING Rec Yds Avg TD Diulio, Mater Dei 34 625 18.4 4 Creager, Santa Margarita 28 397 14.2 3 Stroffe, Mater Dei 25 355 14.2 2

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SCORING TD FG XP TP Bystedt, Servite 13 0 0 78 Palacios, Mater Dei 12 0 0 72 Herzog, Santa Margarita 11 0 0 66

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NOTEBOOK

Santa Margarita and Mater Dei are first and second in all-time winning percentage among Orange County football teams. The Eagles have won 74.4% of their games, the Monarchs 74.2%. . . . A team from Santa Margarita’s league has won a Southern Section football title for eight consecutive years. The Eagles resided in the Sea View League before moving to the Serra League in 1999. . . . Five children of Heisman Trophy winners have played for Santa Margarita, including two--sophomore running back Ashton White and junior wide receiver Thomas Cappelletti--on this year’s team. White is the son of Charles White, who won the Heisman with USC in 1979. Thomas’ father, John, won the Heisman in 1973 with Penn State. The other three sons of Heisman winners were Julian White and Nick and Tom Cappelletti. . . . Ashton White has another claim to fame as a member of South Mission Viejo’s 1997 national champion Little League team. . . . Servite and Santa Margarita will play at least nine games at Cal State Fullerton this season. . . . St. John Bosco Coach Kiki Mendoza, noting California’s victories in summer all-star games against Texas and Florida, called the Serra League the best in California--and the country.