Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) put forward a convincing performance to be the top team in the nation, following a comprehensive win on Saturday night in the CIF State Open Division championship game.
In last week’s USA TODAY HSS Super 25, Mater Dei was ranked third in the nation. Their opponent on Saturday was No. 17 Serra (San Mateo, Calif.).
And Mater Dei simply rolled over Serra with a 35-0 win. Quarterback Elijah Brown, a Stanford football commit, threw for four touchdowns.
It was the most impressive win of the weekend for any of the nationally ranked teams. But the argument could certainly be made that Mater Dei’s win, considering the quality of the opponent, might be the most thorough and complete win in any championship game in the country this fall.
74 YARDS TO THE HOUSE MATER DEI!
Just like that it is 14-0 Mater Dei with 1:21 left in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/js3ChMUTVs
— West Coast Preps (@westcoastpreps_) December 10, 2023
Could Mater Dei be the top team in the nation when it is all said and done? That would be a difficult mountain to climb. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) hasn’t faltered all season and Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Florida) seemed to get better every week.
Mater Dei, at 13-1, has an interesting argument to make now following Saturday’s win. Few thought they would be as dominant as they were against a team as good as Serra.
A top finish in the Super 25 would break a tie for most all-time, which the Monarchs currently share with perennial power De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
