-
An overflow crowd at Santa Ana stadium watches the game against IMG Academy from outside the fence along Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei fans cheer their team as they watch the clock run down with seconds left in the game against IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
SoundThe gallery will resume inseconds
-
Mater Dei offensive lineman George Miki-Han, left, offensive lineman Kamuta Levasa, center, and offensive lineman Tautai Marks, right, celebrate after the Monarchs upset IMG Academy 28-24 in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
IMB Academy free safety Briton Allen breaks up a pass intended for Mater Dei wide receiver Kody Epps, top, in the fourth quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei’s Bru McCoy, left, beats IMB Academy cornerback DJ Turner II to score a touchdown on a pass play in the second quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
-
Mater Dei defensive back Darion Green, left, motions to the crowd as he celebrates the Monarchs’ win over IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei offensive lineman Kamuta Levasa says a little prayer as the game ends with the Monarchs winning 28-24 over IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, right, breaks free from IMG Academy defensive back Jayden Curry, left, as he turns the corner to gain more yardage in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
IMB Academy defensive end Nolan Smith, center, jumps on Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, left, to try to stop him in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
IMB Academy running back Trey Sanders, left, pushes Mater Dei offensive lineman Tautai Marks, right, away as he muscles more yardage in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Sean Dollars motions to the crowd to cheer louder after the Monarchs upset IMG Academy 28-24 in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, center, jumps over IMG Academy cornerback DJ Turner II to avoid the tackle as he continues gaining yardage in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper lets out a yell as time runs out and the Monarchs beat IMG Academy 28-24 in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei’s Bru McCoy, right, celebrates with teammate Michael Martinez, left, after scoring a touchdown on a pass play against IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper finds an open field to gain big yardage against IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei fans cheer with their team leading 28-24 late in the fourth quarter against IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, right, breaks free from IMB Academy defensive back Jayden Curry, left, as he turns the corner to gain more yardage in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
IMB Academy quarterback David Baldwin, left, just does get away from Mater Dei linebacker Bru McCoy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, center, jumps over IMB Academy cornerback DJ Turner II to avoid the tackle as he continues gaining yardage in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
IMG Academy quarterback David Baldwin, left, just does get away from Mater Dei linebacker Bru McCoy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young dives into the end zone for the touchdown to break the tie and put the Monarchs ahead with only minutes left in the game against IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
-
Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young, center, looks to celebrate with offensive lineman Myles Murao, left, after scoring the go-ahead touchdown against IMG Academy in Santa Ana on Friday, September 21, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Expand
Myles Murao heard the play called in the huddle.
His reaction …
“Yes!” he said to himself.
Murao is an offensive tackle for Mater Dei. Offensive linemen rarely get so excited over a play call.
But this was a rare play in a rare game.
Murao (6-3, 280) caught a short pass from Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young at the 10-yard line and a few strides later was in the end zone.
That was one of several huge plays for Mater Dei in a 28-24 win over IMG Academy of Bradenton, Fla., on Friday night. In USA Today’s national rankings IMG is No. 1 and Mater Dei is No. 3. There were too many penalties — 30 between the two of them — but IMG and Mater Dei played like the elite teams they are.
Murao, a junior who has scholarship offers from many top college football programs including Auburn, LSU and Michigan, said Mater Dei offensive coordinator Dave Money introduced the tackle-eligible trick play during the two weeks of practice the Monarchs had to prepare for the IMG game at Santa Ana Stadium.
“We ran it in practice,” said Murao of the third-quarter play. “Same result.”
Mater Dei is not big on trickery. But there was another creative play in the third quarter that yielded a touchdown, a flea-flicker on which Monarchs quarterback Bryce Young handed off to running back Shakobe Harper who pitched the ball to receiver Bru McCoy coming through the Mater Dei backfield, and McCoy then pitched it to Young who heaved a perfect pass to running back Sean Dollars. Dollars, who snuck unnoticed out of the backfield during the pitch outs, caught the ball around the IMG 20-yard line and stepped unencumbered into the end zone.
Mater Dei president Pat Murphy later said he had not seen the Monarchs football team reach into the trick bag since the 1990s.
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said he had started to think the Monarchs made a mistake calling those plays.
“The worst part,” Rollinson said, “is that midway through the third quarter we were out of trick plays and I was going ‘Oh, no!’ ”
Mater Dei might have been out of trick players but the Monarchs were not out of great players. Young (309 passing yards and three touchdowns), McCoy and the Monarchs defensive backfield were terrific all night.
A team has to do the little things right to beat a team like IMG. One of those little things was the ensuing kickoff late in the game, after Young had bolted into the end zone on a short run that put Mater Dei on top 28-24. Nicolas Lopez put the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, an outcome preferable over giving the IMG Ascenders’ Trey Sanders the chance to return the kick for big yards or perhaps points.
Rollinson’s reaction to the kick that resulted in a touchback with 1:06 remaining …
“Sometimes I’m a weirdo,” he said. “I didn’t even watch it.”
It was a game worth watching.
FLAGS FLY
Mater Dei was penalized 16 times for 155 yards. IMG was assessed 14 penalties for 138 yards.
Both teams committed a couple of personal foul penalties. Two IMG players were ejected.
Yes, there is the “let ‘em play” sentiment. But an official can’t swallow his whistle when holding is right in front of him or there is an obvious offsides infraction.
BEING THERE
IMG-Mater Dei was on local TV, but high school football followers know that being at a big game is rewarding. Santa Ana Stadium was standing-room only for Friday’s game.
Mater Dei is back at Santa Ana Stadium next Friday when the Monarchs play Servite in the Trinity League opener for both. Oddly, it is Servite’s home game at the stadium that has been Mater Dei’s home field for decades. Servite’s athletic administration thought that the rental fee at its usual home field at Cerritos College was excessive so the Friars had to find another site and Santa Ana Stadium turned out to be that site.
QUICK HITS
Mission Viejo beat Orange Lutheran 37-35. The Diablos are 7-1 over the past three seasons against Trinity League teams. Mission Viejo running back Jamari Ferrell was the difference-maker, rushing for 171 yards. …
We’ve got to find a way to get Villa Park’s Zion Alefosio on the All-Orange County team. After getting six tackles and an interception last week in the Spartans’ win over Servite, Alefosio scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams Friday in a win over El Toro. …
Los Alamitos is the favorite to win the Sunset League championship. The Griffins’ 35-16 win Friday over Tesoro, and their earlier win over Long Beach Poly, puts them in the team-to-beat chair in the Sunset League.