Mater Dei Crosses Up Jordan

Santa Ana Mater Dei High Coach Bruce Rollinson implored his defenders to play with “controlled fury” Friday night against Long Beach Jordan, but the Monarchs took it one step further and attacked the Panther line of scrimmage with abandon.

Mater Dei’s defense hurried and worried Jordan quarterback Cameron Smith from start to finish as the Monarchs held on for a 12-7 victory at Jordan High in the first round of the Southern Section Division I football playoffs. It was the second consecutive year that Mater Dei beat the Panthers in the first round.

Smith had one final chance to rally the Panthers, but his pass intended for Malcolm Thompson at the Mater Dei two-yard line was batted down by Kenny Chicoine. The Monarchs took over with 1:11 remaining and ran out the clock.

“We did a whole lot of great things on defense tonight,” said Rollinson, whose team will play second-seeded Redlands on Friday. “We had some kids step up and we were able to get the blitz package going. We contained the quarterback.”

The Monarchs (7-4) sacked Smith only once, but they limited his effectiveness by quickly moving into the Jordan backfield on almost every play.

The Panthers (7-3) also hurt themselves with penalties. Jordan had a first down at the Mater Dei 24 on its last possession before a holding penalty moved it back 24 yards. The Panthers also converted only one of three fake punt attempts.

Panther strong safety Tone Taupule intercepted a Colt Brennan pass midway through the third quarter and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to pull Jordan within 9-7, but the Panthers would come no closer.

Tim Chicoine converted his second 37-yard field goal of the game later in the quarter to make it 12-7.

Two Jordan miscues proved costly in the early going as Mater Dei took a 9-0 halftime lead.

Monarch defensive back Dominic Rickard broke through the Panther line midway through the first quarter to partially block a punt, giving Mater Dei the ball at the Jordan 48.

Rafael Rice cut around left end six plays later for an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Monarchs a 6-0 lead.

Jordan suffered another breakdown late in the second quarter when Richard Nichols fumbled a punt return and Mater Dei’s Greg Vickers recovered to set up a field goal.