Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
BELLFLOWER — Mater Dei’s football faithful banged red ThunderStix as the Monarchs entered their Trinity League showdown against St. John Bosco on Friday playing a different role in the rivalry.
Mater Dei was firmly the chaser, a squad seeking an upset and more consistency.
The position of being ranked No.1 in the nation belonged to St. John Bosco. So did the label of major CIF-SS Division 1 contender, a distinction often associated with the Monarchs as well.
Mater Dei — with Chris Henry Jr. and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and CJ Lavender Jr. leading the way — changed the narrative.
The Monarchs overcame a 21-point deficit in the first half to upset the Braves 36-31 at St. John Bosco to earn a share of the league title.
Lavender intercepted a pass in the end zone on fourth-and-goal with 1:34 left in the fourth quarter to seal the win. It was his second interception of the game.
Mater Dei ended the game by breaking up a pass into the end zone.
Dixon-Wyatt caught three TD catches while Henry had five catches for 213 yards.
Mater Dei (7-2, 4-1), ranked No. 9 in the nation by HSratings, came alive in the third quarter with interceptions by CJ Lavender Jr. and Troy Bishop. The Monarchs turned both takeaway into touchdowns as they cut the Braves lead to 31-30.
Bishop grabbed an interception the St. John Bosco 45 late in the third that led to a 10-yard touchdown catch by Dixon-Wyatt.
With 8:25 left in the fourth, the Ohio State made a leaping 24-yard touchdown reception on pass from Ryan Hopkins to lift Mater Dei a 36-31 lead. The 2-point conversion failed.
Henry sparked the drive with a long reception against St. John Bosco (9-1, 4-1).
Mater Dei finished tied with the Braves and Santa Margarita for the league title.
The Monarchs have earned an automatic playoff berth this fall and will learn their playoff opponent Sunday when the CIF-SS announces the pairings at 10 a.m.
Mater Dei has defeated St. John Bosco in the past two Division 1 finals.
St. John Bosco scored 24 consecutive points during one stretch to led 24-10 at halftime.
Mater Dei took a 3-0 advantage in the middle of the first quarter on a 19-yard field goal by Jerry Shifman after Lavender Jr. forced and recovered a fumble at the Monarchs 47.
On the next play, Henry Jr. sparked drive with a 46-yard reception along the sideline from Hopkins.
But St. John Bosco answered with a 24-point blitz with dazzling speed and physical defense.
Sophomore DJ Tubbs raced behind the Mater Dei defense for a 78-yard touchdown catch from Koa Malau’ulu with 3:27 left in the opening period.
In second quarter, defensive back Dillon Davis returned a fumble that slipped loose 21 yards for a score.
After St. John Bosco stuffed a Mater Dei run on fourth down from the Monarchs 46, the Braves drove for a 2-yard TD run by Maliq Allen as the lead grew to 24-3.
Mater Dei’s dedicated itself to the ground attack in the first half. Justin Lewis ran 15 times for 33 yards. Hopkins chipped with four carries for 25 yards but the Braves’ defense mostly held.
Mater Dei finished the first half 2 for 7 on third-down conversions and 0 for 1 on fourth-down attempts.
Henry snapped the surge by a 57-yard touchdown reception late in the half. The Ohio State commit caught a pass over the middle from Hopkins and sprinted to the sideline en route to the end zone with 1:16 left in the half.