Mater Dei finds its groove in blowout

SANTA ANA - Ready or not, the sixth-ranked Mater Dei football team will begin Trinity League play next week.

After suffering its share of heartbreaking losses, the Monarchs wrapped up their nonleague schedule with a 52-16 victory over Gardena on Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The victory was the second in a row for Mater Dei (2-3).

The Monarchs are now hopeful that they are prepared for the challenge that they're about to embark on as they begin Trinity League play Thursday against Santa Margarita at Santa Ana Stadium.

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"We're on a short week, but besides losing the two tailbacks (Freddie Mora and Aaron Hawkins), I think we're healthy, so now it's fish or cut bait," Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. "Bottom line is, we have to get ready for a big one week after week."

"They (the players) know what's coming up. We'll be a lot sharper than we were tonight."

Santa Margarita, ranked third in last week's county top 10, had a bye this week. The Ealges will likely move up in next week's rankings. Mission Viejo, which was ranked second this week, lost to Redlands East Valley on Friday.

All of the Trinity League teams, except for Mater Dei and JSerra, had a bye this week.

The Monarchs have qualified for the playoffs every season since Rollinson became coach in 1989.

"Now you just go one week at a time," Rollinson said. "You have to have a lot of emotion, and it is going to be physical. But you know what, it is kind of fun."

Last season, the Monarchs finished third in the Trinity League and qualifed for the playoffs.

The top three teams in the Trinity League will earn a guaranted spot in the Pac-5 Division playoffs.

Mater Dei had its share of fun against Gardena. The Monarch led 21-0 after an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter by Michael Do.

The Panthers' best offensive series came after Do's touchdown. Gardena put together a 13-play, 86-yard drive that ended on a 21-yard touchdown pass from William Benson to Kaelen Russell to make the score 21-7.

After recovering the onside kick, Mater Dei answered on the first play, a 45-yard touchdown pass from Ryan McMahon to Jameson Field to make the score 28-7 at halftime.

The Monarchs scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, one on a 91-yard kickoff return by Jonathan Lockett for a 42-10 lead entering the fourth.

The Monarchs had a ground game by committee approach. J.C. Genova led with 47 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Joseph Campos, Do and Turner all scored rushing touchdowns.

Mater Dei quarterback Ryan McMahon had an easy night, completing four of five passes for 147 yards and one touchdown, a 45-yard strike to Jameson Field in the second quarter.

"He's still has a ways to go, but it is going to be about his confidence and about him being able to manage the offense," Rollinson said of McMahon.

"You can't hold back, we're going to have to give him the package and hope that he's going to be able to handle it ... I believe that he is."