No. 4 Mater Dei falls in battle with Narbonne

HARBOR CITY - Mater Dei experienced the speed of Narbonne of Harbor City up close.

The Monarchs also encountered the constant energy from the Gauchos and their passionate home crowd.

But Mater Dei didn't blink.

The No. 4 Monarchs pushed Narbonne for four quarters before falling, 18-17, on Friday in a showdown of teams ranked in the top 11 in the state.

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Narbonne (5-0) emerged as a major state bowl game contender after deflecting a Mater Dei pass on a fourth-and-7 attempt from the Gauchos 33 with about a minute left.

Narbonne entered the game ranked fourth in the state; Mater Dei (4-1) was 11th.

"I think we've got a good football team," Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. "Our defense was spectacular. ... That's the real deal right there (in Narbonne). That's as good as it's going to get.

"We're 4-1. We go to the Trinity League now. We're injury free. I think the kids are really going to believe after this because they went toe-to-toe with them."

Narbonne took the 18-17 lead into the fourth after it used its speed advantage to score a third touchdown late in the third quarter.

Johnell Jackson raced along the sideline with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Troy Williams with 1:04 left to give the Gauchos a one-point lead. Narbonne missed the 2-point conversion.

Jackson helped Narbonne capitalize on a mistake by Mater Dei on a punt. The Gauchos' scoring drive started at the Monarchs 38 after Mater Dei snapped the ball high on a punt attempt and lost the ball out of bounds.

The defenses squared off the in the fourth quarter. Mater Dei's offense had possession three times but couldn't crack the Narbonne 30.

On its final possession, Mater Dei converted a fourth-and-4 from the Narbonne 44 with an 8-yard reception by wide out Thomas Duarte from QB Ryan McMahon with 2:22 left. But on the fourth-and-7, McMahon's pass was deflected by Sidney Watkins.

The Monarchs would have attempted a field goal had they reached about the 25, Rollinson said.

Mater Dei's defense made plenty of plays. The Monarchs held Narbonne to 19 yards rushing and forced two turnovers.

Mater Dei's offense established its ground attack. The Monarchs opened the second half with a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive that running back Justin Allen capped with a 7-yard TD run. Mater Dei led, 17-12.

Allen finished with 84 yards of the Monarchs' 137 yards on the ground. Nine different players carried the ball for the Monarchs.

"You saw that defensive front (of Narbonne)?," Rollinson said. "We went straight down hill at that them."

Mater Dei capitalized on an early interception by cornerback Treavon Coley to take a 3-0 lead. The senior intercepted a deflected pass at his 43 on the opening possession.

The Monarchs drove for a first-and-goal at the 9 but settled for a 38-yard field goal by Tim Strader with 7:44 left in the first quarter.

Narbonne responded with its speed. Keishawn Bierria, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker, returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown to give Narbonne a 6-3 lead with 2:36 left in the first period. The PAT failed.

Narbonne's A.J. Richardson then turned on his burners early in the second quarter. The Cal commit took a quick out-pass from Williams and raced 65 yards for a 12-3 lead just 12 seconds into the second period. The Gauchos' missed another PAT.

"They're fast," Rollinson said of Narbonne. "They're fast. ... But I'm of the kids. I'm proud of the way we fought.""

Mater Dei answered later in the second quarter. Ryan McMahon tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Duarte with 5:03 left in the first half. The score help cap a 55-yard drive after a short punt by Narbonne.

The Monarchs' defense forced another turnover before halftime. On the ensuing possession, Grant Moore recovered a fumble at the Narbonne 35 but the Gauchos' defense held.