Mater Dei 2023 schedule breakdown

<p>One of the top programs in the nation, Mater Dei of Santa Ana, recently announced its 2023 schedule.</p>   <p>The Monarchs are under a new head coach for the first time in over 30 years in <strong>Frank McManus.</strong> </p>   <p>Mater Dei is returning plenty of starters and has one of its most talented teams on paper in recent years. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='683642' first='Elijah' last='Brown'] returns at quarterback for his fourth year as a starter. [player_tooltip player_id='282698' first='Jordon' last='Davison'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273546' first='Nate' last='Frazier'] are two of the top running backs in the state. The offensive line is led by [player_tooltip player_id='147719' first='DeAndre' last='Carter'], [player_tooltip player_id='147730' first='Brandon' last='Baker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='282776' first='Sione' last='Tohi']. </p>   <p>Defensively, the Monarchs return a plethora of talent. [player_tooltip player_id='195568' first='Tanner' last='Williams'] is back from injury as an edge rusher and [player_tooltip player_id='282774' first='Nasir' last='Wyatt'] is coming off a breakout season. [player_tooltip player_id='115434' first='Aydin' last='Breland'] is a top interior defensive lineman and will play with [player_tooltip player_id='115435' first='Kaho' last='Tuihalamaka'] and [player_tooltip player_id='147757' first='Zeus' last='Venegas']. [player_tooltip player_id='195537' first='Jeilani' last='Davis'] is committed to Utah and the secondary is loaded with talent, led by [player_tooltip player_id='147715' first='Zabien' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='282734' first='Chuck' last='McDonald III'] and [player_tooltip player_id='282700' first='Daryus' last='Dixson'] among others.</p>   <p>The Monarchs are playing teams from California, Utah, Georgia, Hawaii and Maryland before playing a tough Trinity League schedule. Here is a breakdown of Mater Dei's opponents for the 2023 season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MDFootball/status/1662112009033506816?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8/18 CENTENNIAL, CA</strong></h2>   <p>Centennial may be the best public school team in California and played Mater Dei very close in the Division 1 playoffs two years ago. The Huskies have one of the top class of 2025 quarterbacks in [player_tooltip player_id='406636' first='Husan' last='Longstreet']. His top targets will be [player_tooltip player_id='406637' first='Cory' last='Butler'] and Rancho Cucamonga transfer [player_tooltip player_id='398454' first='Jason' last='Harris'] and the returning running back is [player_tooltip player_id='683627' first='Cornell' last='Hatcher']. The offensive line is led by brothers [player_tooltip player_id='398442' first='Wade' last='Helton'], [player_tooltip player_id='398441' first='Brent' last='Helton'] and rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='406700' first='Drew' last='Hill']. The secondary has good prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='282775' first='LaRue' last='Zamorano'] and [player_tooltip player_id='595826' first='Tayten' last='Beyer']. Centennial is the only Southern California team who is willingly playing Mater Dei in a nonleague game and is one of the few local programs that doesn't fear the Monarchs.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Cen10Football/status/1629967874445152256?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8/26 AT BINGHAM, UTAH</strong></h2>   <p>Mater Dei played West Salt Lake City last season but will travel to Utah this year to play Bingham. The big playmaker for Bingham is <strong>Carson Sudbury</strong> who led the team in rushing and receiving yards last year and had 19 touchdowns. He has an offer from Carroll College. <strong>Tyson McBride</strong> is expected to lead the defense and <strong>Jaice Tupea</strong> is a talented junior defensive lineman.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BinghamMinersFB/status/1655929607676399618?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9/2 CREEKSIDE, GA</strong></h2>   <p>Creekside is a high-level team in Georgia. Offensive lineman <strong>Caleb Holmes</strong> has offers from a lot of the major schools including LSU and Tennessee. Defensive back <strong>Ricky McCrary</strong> has offers from Middle Tennessee State and Alabama State among others. Class of 2025 receiver <strong>Dylan Vickerson</strong> has an offer from Tennessee as well. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Commit2ThaC/status/1650284545998987266?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9/9 KAHUKU, HAWAII</strong></h2>   <p>Kahuku played Mater Dei rival St. John Bosco last season and lost 34-7 in Bellflower. Kahuku has a strong fan base and strong tradition that will travel to see them play. <strong>Aiden Manutai</strong> returns at receiver for Kahuku and had a touchdown catch against Bosco last season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/C_Morrissette/status/1571367677536653312?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9/22 AT ST. FRANCES ACADEMY, MD</strong></h2>   <p>Mater Dei played St. Frances a few years ago and won with a four touchdown game from <strong>Bryce Young</strong>. This time, Mater Dei will head east to play a loaded St. Frances team. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='172210' first='Michael' last='Van Buren'] is an Oregon commit and running back [player_tooltip player_id='249100' first='Dejuan' last='Williams'] has a final eight that includes Maryland, Oregon and Stanford. Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='172225' first='Ify' last='Obidegwu'] is also headed to Oregon. Safety [player_tooltip player_id='172217' first='Edrees' last='Farooq'] is headed to Tennessee and offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='172214' first='Logan' last='Bennett'] is going to Michigan State. St. Frances is the most talented team on Mater Dei's nonleague schedule and is the biggest threat to Mater Dei besides St. John Bosco.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/UAFootball/status/1592961745865551872?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9/29 SERVITE</strong></h2>   <p>Servite was the last place team in the Trinity League last season but was very young and overmatched. Those Servite players are a year older now and under a new coaching staff. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='406664' first='Leo' last='Hannan'] has recently gotten offers from San Jose State and San Diego State. [player_tooltip player_id='270921' first='Ethan' last='Naudin'] is a promising receiver who is doing well on the camp circuit. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723744' first='Quaid' last='Carr']</strong> had a nice year at running back last season. Servite has a strong sophomore class, but the Friars may be a year away from moving up the Trinity League ladder. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ServiteFootball/status/1641977868413730816?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10/6 JSERRA</strong></h2>   <p>JSerra played a close game against Mater Dei in the regular season but was knocked out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals by the Monarchs. The Lions have a new quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='282761' first='Michael' last='Tollefson'] from San Juan Hills. JSerra has three quality running backs in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406721' first='George' last='Perez'], Kamar Garbourel</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='780472' first='Sean' last='Morris']. [player_tooltip player_id='282706' first='Jake' last='Flores'] leads the offensive line for the Lions and edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] earned First Team All-Trinity League honors as a sophomore last season. The Lions also added one of the top defensive players in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='282705' first='Madden' last='Faraimo']. JSerra also has a new coaching staff and is a contender to get third place in the league.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JSerra_Football/status/1640463120010461185?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10/13 AT ST. JOHN BOSCO</strong></h2>   <p>Mater Dei beat Bosco in the regular season in 2022 but the Braves beat Mater Dei in the championship game at the Rose Bowl. Bosco is loaded with talent, particularly on defense. The three best defensive players in the state are on Bosco: [player_tooltip player_id='115443' first='Kyngstonn' last='Viliamu-Asa'], [player_tooltip player_id='115433' first='Peyton' last='Woodyard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='115432' first='Marcelles' last='Williams']. [player_tooltip player_id='273572' first='Khmori' last='House'] is a fast rising linebacker and [player_tooltip player_id='115469' first='Jordan' last='Lockhart'] is very good as well. [player_tooltip player_id='273626' first='Tamal' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='398450' first='Frankie' last='Edwards III'] round out the secondary. I expect [player_tooltip player_id='115455' first='Caleb' last='Sanchez'] to start at quarterback with [player_tooltip player_id='398389' first='Cameron' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='115464' first='Chauncey' last='Sylvester'], [player_tooltip player_id='147723' first='Khalil' last='Warren'] and <strong>Jeremy Lenore</strong> in the backfield. [player_tooltip player_id='209113' first='Madden' last='Williams'] is a receiver I am high on along with [player_tooltip player_id='283605' first='Daniel' last='Odom'] and [player_tooltip player_id='398390' first='Hayden' last='Eligon II']. The offensive line lost some guys but [player_tooltip player_id='273573' first='King' last='Large'] is a top prospect. [player_tooltip player_id='283643' first='Maddux' last='Sorenson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='841045' first='Matthew' last='Perdue'] are other lineman I am high on. Once again, it's a race between Mater Dei and Bosco for the CIF championship.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/boscofootball/status/1596408214152613888?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10/20 AT ORANGE LUTHERAN</strong></h2>   <p>Orange Lutheran is returning a ton of starters, particularly on both sides of the line. The offensive line has top prospect [player_tooltip player_id='780266' first='Samuelu' last='Utu'] and also has promising young guys [player_tooltip player_id='283610' first='Dustin' last='Foisia'] and [player_tooltip player_id='841046' first='Arion' last='Williams']. On the defensive line, [player_tooltip player_id='780311' first='Auma' last='Jennings'] and [player_tooltip player_id='723736' first='Jireh' last='Moe'] are back as great pass rushers. [player_tooltip player_id='282728' first='TJ' last='Lateef'] is back at quarterback and [player_tooltip player_id='401215' first='Alex' last='Medyn'] is a young quarterback also getting offers. [player_tooltip player_id='282715' first='Tyler' last='Hennessy'] is back at receiver along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723685' first='AJ' last='Ia'].</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='283686' first='Talanoa' last='Ili'] led the team in tackles last season and is back for the Lancers. [player_tooltip player_id='282779' first='Jonathan' last='“Jojo” Edwards'] is back at linebacker and <strong>Wallace Filemu</strong> is back too. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/OLuFootball/status/1625921483691393024?s=20 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10/27 SANTA MARGARITA</strong></h2>   <p>Santa Margarita lost a lot of talent from last year's team due to graduation and transfers. The Eagles do have some high-level players returning though like receiver [player_tooltip player_id='115420' first='Emmett' last='Mosley'], who led the Trinity League in receiving last year. [player_tooltip player_id='115437' first='Gage' last='Burnett'] is a quality edge rusher along with [player_tooltip player_id='147756' first='Levar' last='Talley']. [player_tooltip player_id='212234' first='Skylar' last='Lendsey'] will be the primary running back for the Eagles.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SMCHS_Football/status/1638611277521240065?s=20 </div></figure>

One of the top programs in the nation, Mater Dei of Santa Ana, recently announced its 2023 schedule.