Mater Dei Delivers Serious Punch Line

Bruce Rollinson, Santa Ana Mater Dei’s football coach, walked onto the field before Friday night’s Serra League opener and joked with Bellflower St. John Bosco Coach Kiki Mendoza. “Let’s trade game plans,” he quipped.

It looked as if Mater Dei’s defense knew exactly where St. John Bosco tailback Terrence King was rushing, limiting him to six yards in 15 carries in the Monarchs’ 24-17 victory at St. John Bosco.

Mater Dei (3-3, 1-0), ranked No. 22 in the Southland by The Times, recorded 11 tackles for losses in winning its third consecutive game. King was dropped seven times for losses. Credit inside linebackers Greg Moses and Ray Andong for disrupting the Braves’ offense.

Running back Justin Guzman of Mater Dei broke a 17-17 tie with 2:06 left in the third quarter when he scored on a three-yard run. Guzman set up the touchdown with a 33-yard punt return and finished with 81 yards rushing in 14 carries.

St. John Bosco (5-1, 0-1), ranked No. 10 and the defending Serra League champion, failed to score in the second half after driving to the Mater Dei 23, 27 and 22. Quarterback Patrick Cowan completed only seven of 21 passes for 102 yards. He was sacked three consecutive times at the end of the game inside his own 10-yard line, twice by Notre Dame-bound tackle Brandon Nicolas.

Pagemun Parvin’s 27-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter gave Mater Dei a 17-14 halftime lead. St. John Bosco was fortunate to be so close after picking up only 22 yards rushing and being outgained, 232 yards to 83.

Mater Dei opened a 14-0 lead in the first half thanks to Jason Forcier’s 21-yard touchdown run and a six-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Brown.

But two sophomores ignited a Brave comeback. Brandon Johnson, a cornerback, returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown. Receiver Jamar Brown caught a 47-yard pass from Cowan to clear the way for King’s five-yard touchdown run.

Forcier completed 12 of 18 passes for 124 yards and rushed for 60 yards in 10 carries.