MISSION VIEJO — Mater Dei was dominant on both sides of the ball in a 52-7 drubbing of Santa Margarita in a Trinity League football game Friday at Saddleback College.
In the first half, Mater Dei (9-0, 4-0) had a 38-7 lead despite possessing the ball for less than seven minutes (6:50) compared to 17:10 for Santa Margarita.
Santa Margarita tackle Jalani Liva, left, watches as Carson Palmer, right, conducts the coin toss before the start of the game against Mater Dei in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei cornerback Zabien Brown, left, breaks up a pass intended for Santa Margarita wide receiver Emmett Mosley, right, in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita running back Jake Foye (42) is stopped by the Mater Dei defense during a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Daryus Dixson makes the over-the-shoulder catch to set up another Mater Dei touchdown in the third quarter of a Trinity League football game against Santa Margarita in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita tight end Sean Embree, left, makes the catch in front of Mater Dei safety Rylan Vagana, right, to set up a Santa Margarita touchdown in the first quarter of a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei running back Jordon Davison, left, takes the hand off from quarterback Elijah Brown from the Monarchs end zone and runs the ball to the other end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei Nathaniel Frazier extends the ball over the goal line as he scores a touchdown against Santa Margarita in the third quarter of a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Brown, right, dives but can’t reach a pass as he beats Santa Margarita cornerback Donovan Comestro, left, in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris, left, celebrates with wide receiver Marcus Brown after scoring a touchdown on a pass play in the first quarter against Santa Margarita in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei running back Kai Remigio, gets away from the grasp of Santa Margarita defensive lineman Judah Moenoa to score a touchdown in the third quarter of a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita running back Jake Foye (62) and Carson Palmer, right, look to see if it is heads or tails during the coin toss before the start of the game against Mater Dei in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita running back Jake Foye, (42) is stopped cold again by the Mater Dei defense in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris makes the reception in front of Santa Margarita cornerback Donovan Comestro, right, to take the ball in for a first quarter touchdown in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita quarterback Jaxon Potter flips as he tries to dive into the end zone but comes up short against Mater Dei in the first quarter of a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei cornerback Charles McDonald, left, almost intercepts the ball as he breaks up a pass intended for Santa Margarita wide receiver Bain Eiseman, right, in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Carson Palmer, right, shakes hands with Santa Margarita head football coach Anthony Rouzier, left, before the start of a Trinity League football game against Mater Dei in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei Nathaniel Frazier, left, runs past Santa Margarita strong safety Trey Brown, right, on his way to score a touchdown in the third quarter of a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita High School student Alexis Taylor signs the National Anthem before the start of a Trinity League football game against Mater Dei in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita High School student Brinkley Jankanish signs the National Anthem before the start of the game against Mater Dei in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita High School student Abby Eagle signs the National Anthem before the start of a Trinity League football game against Mater Deiin a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Margarita High School student Mila Drakeford signs the National Anthem before the start of a Trinity League football game against Mater Dei in a Trinity League football game in Mission Viejo on Friday, October 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Elijah Brown was spectacular for the Monarchs, completing 13 of 14 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns were to Marcus Harris, who had 118 yards on two receptions.
“Ever since he’s been a freshman, his deep balls are so well-placed,” Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said of Brown. “It fascinates me. He hits guys in stride right and left. It’s Elijah.”
“The offensive line put us in the right positions so I could make the throws I needed to,” Brown said.
The Monarchs scored on their first two offensive plays of the game. Jordon Davison ran for a 99-yard touchdown to give the Monarchs a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The run is the longest touchdown run in school history.
Davison’s run came after a goal-line stand by the Monarch’s defense at the 1-yard line.
“It motivated us but I think that was a head-dropper for them,” Rollinson said.
After a a touchdown for Santa Margarita (6-3, 2-2), Brown completed a 63-yard touchdown pass to Harris to give Mater Dei the lead back at 14-7.
Freshman cornerback Cory Lavender intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Monarchs ahead 21-7 early in the second quarter.
Davison ran for a 20-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Brown and Harris connected again for a 55-yard touchdown to put Mater Dei in front 35-7.
Andre Medina made a 38-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Monarchs a 38-7 lead at the break.
Nathaniel Frazier and Kai Remigio ran for touchdowns in the third quarter for the Monarchs, from 9 and 4 yards out, respectively, to give Mater Dei a 52-7 lead.
Santa Margarita quarterback Jaxon Potter, who is one of the county leaders in passing yards, was held to 169 yards on 20 completions. The senior threw one touchdown and had one interception, just his second interception of the season.
Potter threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jake Foye in the first quarter. Foye ran for 53 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes.
Rylan Vagana led the Monarchs in tackles with six and the Monarchs had five tackles for a loss. Semi Tualanga had a sack for Mater Dei.
Jacob Bower led Santa Margarita in tackles and Jayden Dose had a pair of sacks.
Mater Dei will play Servite Friday, Oct. 28 at Cerritos College.
“That’s always a big game for me,” Rollinson said. “They are going to come ready to play and I have to get my guys ready to play. It’s the Friars baby.”