Mater Dei Gets It Going at the End

Santa Ana Mater Dei High is back to playing its brand of football.

The No. 17 Monarchs, who uncharacteristically dropped three of their first four games, rallied for a hard-fought, 28-21 victory over No. 11 La Puente Bishop Amat Friday night at La Puente.

Mater Dei (3-3) trailed by seven points midway through the fourth quarter before scoring touchdowns on its final two drives.

Running back Rafael Rice rambled for five yards to give the Monarchs the victory with 1 minute 1 second left. The go-ahead score was set up by Mater Dei defensive back Adam Machado’s interception of a Michael Lange pass at the Monarch 17-yard line with 2:07 remaining.

“It’s a confidence-builder for us,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “We needed a win, and whether we turn it around from here depends on how hard the kids work.”

Quarterback Colt Brennan threw his third touchdown pass of the game, on a 27-yard connection with receiver Matt Haugen with 4:49 left, to draw the Monarchs even at 21-21.

Brennan, who completed 12 of 20 passes for 176 yards, realized the importance of the situation.

“Coach said our season depended on this game,” Brennan said. “We just needed to get back to playing Mater Dei football.”

Bishop Amat (4-1) took a 21-14 lead with 32 seconds left in the third quarter when Lange threw a 68-yard scoring pass to receiver Adam Simon, who finished with four catches for two touchdowns and 120 yards.

Lange completed 12 of 26 for 231 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. Running back Donnie McClesky, who scored on a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put Bishop Amat ahead, 7-0, gained 116 yards in 23 carries.

Rice finished with 119 yards in 15 carries for Mater Dei.

Monarch wide receiver Julian Petit was taken to a hospital in the fourth quarter after being hit in the stomach on a passing route. Rollinson said doctors were concerned about his spleen.

Bishop Amat was its own worst enemy, committing 12 penalties for 98 yards. The Lancers moved the ball to their own 47 with seven seconds left, but Lange’s desperation heave landed behind the Mater Dei secondary.

Rollinson was especially pleased with the play of Brennan, who struggled earlier in the season.

“This is a moment in a young man’s life where you either step it up and make it happen, or you may never get a chance ... again,” Rollinson said. “He stepped up.”