SANTA ANA – The Orange County football universe changed Friday.
JSerra 17, Mater Dei 10.
It was only a few years that JSerra had to forfeit Trinity League games because it did not have enough healthy players to finish the season. Then the Lions started winning a league game here and there. They won their final two league games last year.
Now, JSerra is the No. 1 team in Orange County. The Lions were No. 2 this week in the Register’s poll. They just beat the No. 1 team, Mater Dei.
An obvious question — Is beating Mater Dei the biggest win in JSerra football history? — prompted an obvious answer.
“I’d have to say so,” JSerra coach Jim Hartigan said. “Yeah, sure.”
JSerra has won a couple of CIF championships in other sports. But nothing in the young school’s sports history perhaps matches beating Mater Dei in varsity football.
“It’s a great feeling,” JSerra quarterback Nick Robinson said. “I can’t describe it.”
Robinson did his part. His first pass of the game, on JSerra’s first offensive play of the game, was a 97-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Diego-Williams. He threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Sam Philippi in the third quarter to put JSerra ahead to stay, 14-10.
Another big play was something of a gamble. JSerra, on fourth-and-7 at the Lions’ 35-yard line, was lined up for a punt with less than two minutes to go. The snap went to up-back Aaron Matthews who ran it 10 yards for a first down.
That sealed the win for JSerra (7-1 overall, 2-1 in league).
Mater Dei (6-2, 1-2) likely needs to win its next two league games to get a guaranteed playoff berth. The Monarchs might end up being in the pool of candidates for one of the Pac-5 Division’s two at-large berths.
The Lions won without much production from running back Edward Vander. He rushed for 217 yards in last week’s loss to St. John Bosco, but was held to 46 yards on 16 carries Friday; he had only 5 yards on six first-half carries.
Philippi had eight catches for 110 yards. JSerra’s defense made several huge stops.
It was 7-7 at halftime. Mater Dei took a 10-7 lead on a 28-yard field goal by Elais Deeb in the third quarter.
Phippi’s touchdown reception put the Lions ahead to stay, 17-10. Ethan Worden added three points on a fourth-quarter field goal.
Mater Dei’s game-opening possession ended with a punt that put JSerra on its 3-yard line. On the first play, Nick Robinson unleashed the long pass over the middle that Diego-Williams caught in stride near the JSerra 40. Diego-Williams outraced the defender for a 97-yard touchdown pass play.
The Monarchs got their first-half points on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jack Lowary to Andres Udria to tie the game, 7-7, in the second quarter to tie the game, 7-7.
Mater Dei plays home games the next two weeks, the final two weeks of the regular season. The Monarchs play Santa Margarita at Santa Ana Stadium next Friday and play Orange Lutheran there Nov. 7.
JSerra plays Orange Lutheran Thursday at Orange Coast College. The Lions conclude the regular season with a home game against Servite on Nov. 7 at Saddleback College.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
