Mater Dei keeps it grounded

In a battle of big-time quarterbacks, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound running back made the difference for Santa Ana Mater Dei High.

Senior Jaron Hytche rushed for 141 yards and five touchdowns in 24 carries to lead the Monarchs, ranked No. 8 in the Southland by The Times, to a 35-6 victory over No. 10 Bellflower St. John Bosco on Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

Hytche scored on runs of 12, one, 10, one and 29 yards for Mater Dei (7-2 overall, 4-0 Trinity League), which clinched at least a share of the league title. The Monarchs can win the title outright Thursday with a victory over Orange Lutheran (7-2, 3-1).

Quarterback Matt Barkley completed 14 of 25 passes for 162 yards and two interceptions for the Monarchs, who opened a 21-0 lead in the first quarter thanks in part to two fumbled kickoffs by St. John Bosco (7-2, 2-2).

Quarterback Keith Price completed 18 of 29 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown with one interception for the Braves, who must defeat Anaheim Servite (6-3, 3-1) on Friday to have a chance to advance to the playoffs.

-- Ben Bolch

Late score lifts Edison

Junior quarterback Matt Viles connected on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Michael Rivera late in the fourth quarter as Edison (7-2, 3-1), ranked No. 14 by The Times, survived a late scare to beat Sunset League rival Fountain Valley, 14-7, at Orange Coast College.

The Barons (6-3, 2-2) capitalized on a fumble recovery to tie the score, 7-7, on a three-yard touchdown run by junior running back Kyle Middlebrooks.

Edison can capture its third consecutive league title next week with a victory over Esperanza. It was the Chargers’ fourth consecutive victory over Fountain Valley.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Saugus knocks off

No. 23 Valencia

Senior quarterback Desi Rodriguez rushed for 184 yards and scored on two long touchdown runs in the second period as Saugus held off host No. 23 Valencia for a 31-28 victory that gave the Centurions their first Foothill League title.

Saugus (6-3, 4-0) raced to a 28-10 halftime lead, with Rodriguez scoring second-quarter touchdowns on 29- and 79-yard runs and hitting senior running back Ryan Zirbel with a 45-yard scoring pass just before intermission.

Valencia (7-2, 3-1) made a game of it in the fourth quarter on touchdowns by quarterback Dominick Solley and receiver Daniel Johnson.

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-- Kevin Baxter

Jones carries

Oaks Christian

Malcolm Jones was virtually unstoppable during Westlake Village Oaks Christian’s 49-6 Tri-Valley League victory over Oxnard Santa Clara.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder scored on touchdown runs of 60 and 50 yards and added a 52-yard touchdown reception just before halftime to give the No. 7 Lions a 28-6 lead at the half. Jones finished with 156 yards on 10 carries. He added two receptions for 64 yards.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Centennial remains

undefeated

Despite being held to one touchdown in the second half, host Corona Centennial defeated Big VIII League foe Corona Santiago, 42-30.

After running back Arthur Burns ran for a 44-yard touchdown to give the Huskies (9-0, 6-0) a 42-22 lead with 3:27 remaining, the Sharks (5-4, 3-3) led a nine-play, 56-yard drive that ended with Sean Martin’s 11-yard touchdown catch with 16.2 seconds remaining. Quarterback Brandon Connete also connected with Martin on the two-point conversion to make the score 42-30.

-- Mark Medina

Site chosen for

City title games

The City Championship Division and City Invitational football finals will take place at East L.A. College on Friday, Dec. 12. The Invitational game will start at 4 p.m., followed by the Championship Division at 7:30 p.m.

-- Eric Sondheimer