SANTA ANA – It was quite alarming to hear a Mater Dei player say it: “Let’s put our foot on the gas, boys!”
At the moment, the Monarchs were up by 21 over Lakewood. This had taken less than 7 minutes. If Mater Dei’s foot wasn’t already a leaden anchor flattening the gas pedal, it was a wonder what it would look like if it was pressed.
It didn’t take long to find out. By the end of the first quarter in what was a 66-14 rout at Santa Ana Stadium, Mater Dei led 31-7, on pace for 124 points. Brandon LaMarche had touched the ball four times and found the end zone on three of them, two runs and one 24-yard reception from JT Daniels.
Oddly enough, though, it might have been the defense that shined the brightest for the Monarchs (9-2). Lakewood’s (4-7) first possession ended in a Quentin Lake interception, which set up LaMarche’s first touchdown.
The Lancers’ next possession actually crossed midfield – which preceded a 15-yard loss, a 10-yard loss and a 6-yard loss and a punt. Curtis Robinson put an early close to the next with an interception on the second play, setting up another LaMarche score, a 17-yard run, two plays later.
And they weren’t done. Lakewood QB JD Rafkin was sacked on his own 10 and lost the ball, which rolled into the end zone, where Fa’avae Fa’avae fell on it for a touchdown.
All of that, and the first quarter wasn’t yet over. LaMarche added another score in the first half, as did the defense, an 85-yard interception return from Xavier Bell.
When the half mercifully ended for Lakewood, Mater Dei led 52-7. The crowd was justifiably more interested in the result of the Serra vs. Westlake game, whom the Monarchs would play the winner of. Serra won, 38-20, setting up a clash in Gardena next Friday.