Division 1 Championship Preview: Mater Dei vs. Servite
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Two of the top 10 teams in the country will play for the most coveted Division Championship in sports on Friday. Trinity League rivals Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Servite (Anaheim) will play again for the CIF-Southern Section championship. Mater…
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Continue ReadingTwo of the top 10 teams in the country will play for the most coveted Division Championship in sports on Friday.
Trinity League rivals Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Servite (Anaheim) will play again for the CIF-Southern Section championship. Mater Dei won the first game between the two 46-37.
Mater Dei is 10-0 and No. 1 in MaxPreps’ national rankings. Servite is 10-2 and No. 4 in the Maxpreps rankings. This is the first time ever that the two schools are playing for a CIF championship.
The hype of the game has been marred by a hazing scandal at Mater Dei that has drawn a lot of media attention.
It's finally here 🏈🏆@GregBiggins and @annacconnelly preview the @CIFSS D1 championship between @ServiteFootball and @MDFootball!
Click the link below for the entire video! pic.twitter.com/9tWlFDH9Xz
— PrepZone (@prepzone) November 26, 2021
In the first matchup between these two teams, Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown was spectacular as he has been during big games. CJ Williams CJ Williams 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2022 State CA caught eight passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Mater Dei won the game running the ball however. Raleek Brown Raleek Brown 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA had 162 yards and a touchdown and Ajon Bryant Ajon Bryant 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA averaged 9 yards per carry.
The Monarchs won the line of scrimmage war with sophomore left tackle DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter 6'5" | 350 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , center BJ Tolo BJ Tolo 6'1" | 310 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2023 State CA and left guard Brandon Baker Brandon Baker 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA . Servite plays a lot of linemen two ways and they get tired as the game goes on.
And here they are. Thomas flashing his Creapi championship ring. https://t.co/DaevTvcNFX pic.twitter.com/B1ECHQqJfM
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) November 22, 2021
Servite defensive tackle Max Silao Max Silao 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Servite | 2022 State CA is back after recovering from a car accident. His presence may allow Servite defensive linemen like Mason Graham Mason Graham 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Servite | 2022 State CA and Vaka Hansen Vaka Hansen 6'2" | 305 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA to get a breather.
Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Servite | 2022 State CA was a workhorse in the first game with 167 yards on 15 catches with two touchdowns.
Servite mixed up its strategy last week in a semifinal win against St. John Bosco and used the running game to win. Houston Thomas Houston Thomas 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB Portola | 2022 CA was excellent and broke a 70-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Noah Fifita Noah Fifita 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Servite | 2022 State CA ran for multiple touchdowns and only passed for 100 yards.
Unfortunately for Servite, Mater Dei’s front seven on defense is loaded with names like: Jacob Kongaika Jacob Kongaika 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Malaki Te’o Malaki Te’o 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , David Bailey David Bailey 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Levi Sua Levi Sua 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2023 State CA , Sione Moa Sione Moa 6'2" | 310 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2022 State CA and Eoghan Kerry Eoghan Kerry 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2022 State CA . Nobody has been able to run the ball on the Monarchs this season.
Cam Sidney Cam Sidney 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA did a nice job containing McMillan in the first game with some help from safety Josh Hunter Josh Hunter 5'9" | 165 lbs | ATH Mater Dei | 2022 State CA . I expect McMillan to get another heavy workload in the championship game and for Mater Dei to bracket him with those two guys.
Oregon commit Tetairoa McMillan is a walking cheat code. @TMAC96795 @polynesiabowl pic.twitter.com/iS8sy4v0rW
— Football Recruit. (@FootballRecruit) October 15, 2021
If Mater Dei can run the ball the way they did in the first game again, they will win. Quincy Craig Quincy Craig 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA is a guy to keep an eye on who can make plays in all phases of the game. Cooper Barkate Cooper Barkate 6'1" | 185 lbs | ATH Mater Dei | 2022 State CA only had one catch in the first game but will be more involved on Friday.
Matchups like this make Southern California football the best football in the nation. Te game is on Bally Sports West if you can’t attend live and I highly recommend choosing this as your Friday night entertainment.