Mater Dei football dominates San Mateo Serra to claim CIF State Open Division title
QB Elijah Brown throws four TD passes and the Mater Dei defense shuts out Serra to bring the program its fourth CIF State title
The Mater Dei football team celebrate with the CIF State Open Division football championship trophy in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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Mater Dei running back Ajon Bryant, right, celebrates with linebacker Dailon Clanton after the team’s victory over Serra during the 2023 CIF Open Division high school football state championship game Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Mission Viejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown (12) reacts after the team’s win over Serra during the 2023 CIF Open Division high school football state championship game Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Mission Viejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Mater Dei coach Frank McManus, left, holds the CIF State Open Division football championship trophy in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei defensive back CJ Lavender, left, and safety Therman Williams, right, celebrate after winning the CIF State Open Division football championship against Serra of San Mateo in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown (12) looks to pass the ball against Serra in the second quarter of their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
The Mater Dei football team celebrate with the CIF State Open Division football championship trophy in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Marcus Harris (10) makes a reception in front of Serra’s Jaden Green (3) in the second quarter of their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown (12) celebrates with offensive lineman Brandon Baker (73) after throwing a touchdown pass during the 2023 CIF Open Division high school football state championship game against Serra Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Mission Viejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Mater Dei’s Mark Bowman (19) scores a touchdown against Serra in the first quarter of their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Mater Dei running back Ajon Bryant, center, is tackled by Serra linebacker Jabari Mann, right, and safety Teddy Chung during the 2023 CIF Open Division high school football state championship game Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Mission Viejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Mater Dei wide receiver Jack Ressler pulls in a touchdown pass against Serrta in the fourth quarter in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei running back Jordon Davison (0) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Jack Ressler (88) during the 2023 CIF Open Division high school football state championship game against Serra, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Mission Viejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman, right, celebrates with wide receiver Marcus Harris after scoring a touchdown against Serra in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Serra cornerback Jermaine Barrett ll, right, breaks up a pass intended for Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Brown in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Jack Ressler (88) stretches to catch a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Mater Dei defeated Serra 35-0. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Mater Dei head coach Frank McManus, left, reacts while preparing to present the trophy to quarterback Elijah Brown, center, after the 2023 CIF Open Division high school football state championship game against Serra Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Mission Viejo, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Serra’s Jabari Mann, left, tries to get around Mater Dei defenders in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Zeus Venegas (74) is called off sides as Serra players point at him in the first quarter of their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman starts celebrating as he crosses the goal line to score a touchdown against Serra in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei outside linebacker Ramere Davis, left, celebrates with cornerback Daryus Dixson, right after winning the CIF State Open Division football championship against Serra of San Mateo in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Serra wide receiver Kyon Loud, left, misses an opportunity as the ball lands incomplete against Mater Dei in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Harris scores a touchdown on a pass play against Serra in the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 9, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s John Holthaus (79) walks off the field dejected after being defeated by Mater Dei during their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Mater Dei defeated Serra 35-0. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Serra head coach Patrick Walsh congratulates Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown (12) after being defeated by Mater Dei during their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Mater Dei defeated Serra 35-0. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
MISSION VIEJO — Mater Dei’s to-do list at the CIF State football championships appeared more manageable Saturday with the toppling of its rival already checked off.
But the Monarchs still needed to finish the job against an undefeated foe at Saddleback College.
Elijah Brown made sure Mater Dei checked its final box of the fall.
The four-year starting quarterback tossed four touchdowns as the Monarchs defeated Serra of San Mateo 35-0 in the Open Division final to clinch its fourth state title and perhaps another national title.
Outside linebacker Nasir Wyatt had two sacks and defensive linemen Zeus Venegas and Semi Taulanga each added one to help lead Mater Dei’s defense, which held the Padres to 58 yards.
“It’s mission accomplished,” first-year Mater Dei coach Frank McManus said of the title. “This is the goal. This is the expectation that have been set for years. To be able to complete that mission is the most important thing.”
The Monarchs (13-1) entered the final ranked No. 1 in the nation by High School Football America and third by MaxPreps and USA Today. They left the locker room after the game with national championship-inspired shirts.
Brown, a Stanford commit, fired three touchdown passes in the first half to help Mater Dei open a 21-0 lead.
He finished the night 17 of 22 for 298 yards and became a two-time state champion.
Brown also helped Mater Dei win the state title in 2021 with a 44-7 victory against Serra (12-1).
But his most impressive stat?
Brown finished his high school career with a record of 42-2 as the Monarchs’ starting quarterback.
“You can’t thank EB enough,” Wyatt said of Brown. “He got here as a freshman. He didn’t shy away from his opportunity. He stepped and filled some big shoes for four years. We owe all the love we got to EB.”
“It means a lot to me but it’s a team effort,” he said. “I grew up with all these guys. Being able to be seniors at Mater Dei like this, and win at the highest level, that’s something great that can happen.”
Mater Dei set the stage for the Open final by defeating rival St. John Bosco 35-7 in the CIF-SS Division 1 final at the Coliseum on Nov. 24.
The Monarchs posted the victory after being shut out by the Braves 28-0 in a stunning result in the teams’ Trinity League showdown in mid-October.
St. John Bosco also edged the Monarchs 24-22 in the CIF-SS Division 1 final in 2022, spoiling the final game for Hall of Fame coach Bruce Rollinson.
But the Monarchs regained their swagger under McManus two weeks ago, and maintained that look against Serra, ranked No. 25 by High School Football America.
The Padres flustered Mater Dei early by coming out in some unique offensive formations. The unbalanced and bunched alignments drew a few penalties but the Monarchs took advantage of a Serra mistake to strike first.
Brown tossed a 16-yard touchdown to freshman tight end Mark Bowman with 4:56 left in the first quarter after a roughing the punter penalty extended a Mater Dei drive.
Brown added a 74-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Marcus Harris later in the period after the Monarchs held on a trick play.
Serra lined up for a 29-yard field goal but attempted a fake. Wyatt recorded a tackle for loss on the play as the ball turned over to Mater Dei.
The Monarchs’ special teams helped extend their lead before halftime. A blocked punt by sophomore Shaun Scott led to a 12-yard touchdown from Brown to Jonah Smith with 1:14 left in the second quarter.
Mater Dei capitalized on a turnover in the third quarter to push its lead to 28-0. Running back Jordon Davison leaped in for an 8-yard touchdown run seven plays after Tomu Topui — one of the stars of the Division 1 final last month — recovered a fumble at his 42.
Brown sparked the drive with a 26-yard completion to wide out Marcus Brown to move the ball to the 8.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Mater Dei ran a flea-flicker that ended with Brown’s 31-yard TD strike to Jack Ressler, who became the fourth different receiver to catch a touchdown.
Mater Dei outgained Serra 386-58.
The Monarchs’ defense shared the spotlight with Brown by posting its fifth shutout of the season.
Serra managed only 8 yards rushing and finished 1 for 8 on third down.
“These guys are pretty good,” Mater Dei defensive coordinator Eric Johnson said of his unit. “They could be the best defense I’ve had. They’re experienced. They’re smart.”
Johnson said Mater Dei didn’t see in their scouting the wild formations Serra showed in the final.
“They just went away from their offense completely,” he said of Serra. “They didn’t go back to their regular offense until the fourth quarter, or end of the third. But it didn’t work. It back fired on them.”
Mater Dei struggled with penalties (16 for 150 yards) but still dominated to cap the first season for McManus, a former assistant under Rollinson.
The Monarchs often showed a united and focused approach as they played for the first time since 1988 for a coach other than Rollinson. They bonded, for example, following the death of Chuck McDonald III’s mother and maintained several of their traditions.
And on Saturday, Mater Dei improved to 4-0 in state finals but didn’t forget about its journey this fall.
“(Beating) Bosco, that was just a stepping stone to get to the top of the mountain,” Wyatt said. “We’re ready to have a banquet with our last seniors and get our rings.”
