De La Salle vs. Mater Dei: Top Defensive Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle and Mater Dei played for the Open Division state championship last Saturday at Saddleback College.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei won its second consecutive state championship by beating De La Salle 37-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle was the first Northern California team to score in the Open Division title game since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was in attendance for this game and here are the defensive performers who stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["282774"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96b48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wyatt had 6.5 tackles with 1.5 for a loss and half a sack in Mater Dei's win over De La Salle in the Open Divison championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He was constantly in the backfield in De La Salle's option offense and is so explosive off the ball. De La Salle didn't throw often, but whenever they did Wyatt was in the face of the quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He said it, then they went out and did it. Oregon Commit [player_tooltip player_id='282774' first='Nasir' last='Wyatt'] is the best edge rusher we&#039;ve ever seen at the high school level. <a href="https://twitter.com/wy4att?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wy4att</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MD_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MD_Athletics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/oregonfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@oregonfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScoDucksEdits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScoDucksEdits</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://t.co/qvNAu5r7Cs">pic.twitter.com/qvNAu5r7Cs</a></p>&mdash; STSSFilms (@STSSFilms) <a href="https://twitter.com/STSSFilms/status/1869915363061993610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283689"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96baf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Topui was eating up double teams on the interior and was in the backfield very often. He has a ton of power and is very quick for a guy his size. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1197614' first='Montana' last='Toilolo'] also played well in the interior and made some nice plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Topui was named Trinity League Defensive Player of the Year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Beyond blessed and thankful to have been named MVP of the Trinity League 🙏🏽🇹🇴. <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BlairAngulo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlairAngulo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adamgorney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adamgorney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/latsondheimer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@latsondheimer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MDFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MDFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ohyaiyah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ohyaiyah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AG2G?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AG2G</a> <a href="https://t.co/D3scCzqdyv">pic.twitter.com/D3scCzqdyv</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='283689' first='Tomuhini' last='Topui'] (@TomuTopui52) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomuTopui52/status/1869042036491563373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["723734"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96bf8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Campizta gets lost among the big names on Mater Dei's defense but he had a massive game against De La Salle with 11 tackles and two for a loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was cleaning up a lot of the inside runs when Topui was drawing double teams and Wyatt's outside presence forced the run inside. Campizta is a very good tackler who has great instincts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/MDFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MDFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MrGriffin22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrGriffin22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OLCoachCam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OLCoachCam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PGregorian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PGregorian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChadSimmons_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChadSimmons_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheUCReport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheUCReport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ocvarsityguy</a> <br><br>Thank you for naming me 2nd team all league defense! <a href="https://t.co/6gNWrtYGpV">pic.twitter.com/6gNWrtYGpV</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='723734' first='Lucas' last='Campizta'] (@Lucas_Campizta) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucas_Campizta/status/1868541125335953647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["723696"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96c3d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sanders has a knack for making big interceptions in championship games and did so again against De La Salle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's one of the best inside linebackers in pass coverage I have seen and had a big interception to keep De La Salle at arm's distance in the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='438050' first='Ace' last='Leutele'] also had a nice interception for Mater Dei.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DE LA SALLE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401256"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96c80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jefferson had an excellent pass break up and was in the hip pocket of Mater Dei's receivers the whole game. He is crazy fast and he is impressive on 50/50 balls for a guy his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["282719"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96cc2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">De La Salle actually did a decent job stuffing Mater Dei's running game on early downs and forced a lot of 3rd-and-9 type situations. Johnson was a major reason for De La Salle's stout run defense and didn't get blown off the ball by Mater Dei's linemen. <strong>Myah Telona</strong> also had a nice game defensively inside for De La Salle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["780474"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96d03"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nicholas led De La Salle in tackles with seven and helped prevent a lot of big plays for Mater Dei in the passing game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197563"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6766949e96d44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones-Drew sealed the edge nicely from the outside backer spot and closes to the ball very quickly. His explosiveness prevented some possible big runs for Mater Dei and he is a strong tackler. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->