Jack Lowary leads Mater Dei past Servite, 20-17

Being overlooked is nothing new to Jack Lowary. The spotlight rarely, if ever, is focused on the senior quarterback from Santa Ana Mater Dei High.

Such was the case Friday night, considering he was up against Oregon commit Travis Waller from Anaheim Servite.

But it was Lowary who led his team to victory, 20-17, in a key Trinity League showdown at Cerritos College.

He did not play error-free football. Far from it. However, when it mattered most, the 6-foot-4 and 210-pounder was at his best for Mater Dei (6-1 overall, 1-1 in league) against the Friars (4-3, 1-1).

In another Trinity League game, Bellflower St. John Bosco defeated San Juan Capistrano JSerra, 49-44. Sean McGrew scored five touchdowns against the Lions (6-1, 1-1) as the Braves (6-1, 2-0) took over sole possession of first place in league.

On Mater Dei’s game-winning drive, Lowary connected with Jacob Welch on a first down to move the ball into the red zone. Brandon LaMarche scored with 1:29 left in the game on an eight-yard run that accounted for the final margin of victory.

Servite had one last chance. Waller, hobbled by a troublesome toe, threw a Hail Mary pass from around midfield that missed its mark in the end zone as time expired.

Tate Beachley’s second touchdown of the game, on a three-yard run, gave Servite a 17-13 advantage with 7:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. The senior also scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter.

Inconsistent at times during the first half, Lowary settled down after intermission and did a good job of managing the game. Handing off to LaMarche, Noah Delgadillo and Malik McMorris took the pressure off him.

Lowary put the Monarchs in position to score midway through the third quarter. Delgadillo picked up 14 yards and McMorris scored from one yard out for a 13-10 lead with 8:13 left in the third quarter.

Lowary did not have the services of one of his top receivers, Andre Brown, who was out because of a broken left ankle. It didn’t matter. Lowary spread the ball around to Wisconsin commit Kyle Penniston and Curtis Robinson.

In the first quarter, Lowary kept alive a drive with a 15-yard completion to Robinson and LaMarche capped the march with an eight-yard run to give Mater Dei a 6-0 lead with 1:07 left in the first quarter.

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