Sudden, stunning ending for Mater Dei

LA PUENTE - Mater Dei kept overcoming deficits and mistakes for much of its CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoff game at Bishop Amat of La Puente on Friday night.

But the Lancers didn't go away.

Wide receiver Rio Ruiz made a juggling, 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jerry McClanahan with 38 seconds left to lift Bishop Amat to a dramatic, 28-21, first-round victory.

The Lancers (10-1) will face fourth-seeded Lakewood, a 41-17 winner against Newport Harbor, in the quarterfinals.

The catch by Ruiz was Bishop Amat's answer in the final minute to a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Max Wittek with 1:12 left. Mater Dei (6-5) kicked the extra point to tie the score at 21.

Bishop Amat started the winning drive at its 26 and used two receptions by Ruiz to move to the Monarchs' 40 with 46 seconds left. On the touchdown, Ruiz ran stride for stride with cornerback Matthew Billeci before snaring the ball near the 5.

Mater Dei got the ball back with 30 seconds left but Victor Blackwell lost a fumble with 20 seconds left.

"The kids played their hearts out," Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. "We executed on offense. It was a physical game. It's a tough one to lose."

Wittek completed 18 of 33 passes for 245 yards. His signature play was a rugged 11-yard run on a QB draw that set up his 1-yard score.

Blackwell had 10 receptions for 134 yards, including a touchdown.

The Monarchs were hurt by four turnovers. Bishop Amat had just one.

Mater Dei trailed 14-6 at halftime but took the second-half kickoff and drove 80 yards on nine plays to tie the score. Running back Corbin Anderson capped the drive with a 2-yard run with 6:46 left in the third. Trailing 14-12, Mater Dei went for 2 points and Wittek connected with A.J. Roth.

Mater Dei's defense kept making stops in the fourth and gave the Monarchs the ball at their 24 with 2:48 left. Roth highlighted the drive for Wittek's touchdown run by holding on for a 14-yard catch to Bishop Amat's 40 after a hard hit.

Friday marked the 34th meeting between the former Angelus League rivals. The Lancers now lead the series, 19-15.

Bishop Amat opened a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Anderson scored his second touchdown, breaking a 47 yard run on third-and-1 with 5:34 left in the first half.

Early in the second quarter, Anderson scored on a 12-yard run. Anderson capped a 74-yard drive after a Mater Dei interception at Bishop Amat's 26.

Mater Dei responded before halftime by turning to Blackwell. The wide out hung on for a tough 38-yard reception to Bishop Amat's 22 and later scored on an 11-yard pass from Wittek with 2:32 left in the second quarter.

The Monarchs' defense then got a spark from Billeci. The cornerback's interception and 40-yard return gave Mater Dei the ball at the Lancers' 35 with 2:10 left. But Bishop Amat forced Mater Dei to turn the ball over on downs.