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| Ground Game Continues Clicking for Mater Dei |
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| The storyline surrounding Friday Night’s contest was a faceoff between future Pac-10 quarterbacks Matt Barkley (USC) and Keith Price (Washington). However, after a trio of first quarter touchdown runs by Mater Dei running back Jaron Hytche, it became clear to everyone inside the Santa Ana Bowl who the true difference maker in this Trinity League showdown would be.
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Hytche, a 5’9 195 lb senior, tallied 141 yards on 24 carries and five touchdowns while leading the Mater Dei Monarchs to a 35-6 victory over the Braves from St. John Bosco.
The defense answered the bell for the Monarchs by keeping a St. John Bosco offense that has averaged 37.8 points-per-game throughout the season in check throughout the game. Price, one of SoCal’s top playmakers at quarterback, was sacked six times, intercepted once, and repeatedly flushed out of the pocket and forced to make off balance throws on the run. The front four of Mater Dei rarely gave him enough time to plant his feet and get comfortable in the pocket.
Mater Dei jumped out to an early lead thanks to two fumbled kickoff returns by the Braves. Hytche steamrolled into the endzone for touchdown runs of 12, 1, and 10 yards in the opening stanza. After a scoreless second quarter, the Monarchs would hold onto their early 21-0 lead all the way into the halftime intermission.
The offense of St. John Bosco would show signs of life at the start the second half. The Braves drove 86 yards down the field in 3 minutes and 55 seconds, ending with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Price to Lucas Mealy to put Bosco on the board. Monarch’s defensive back Chris Maldonado blocked the extra point to make it a 21-6 contest.
Hytche would end all hopes of a comeback by plunging into the endzone from the one-yard line with 3:08 left in the final quarter. His fifth and final touchdown of the game would come on a 29-yard scamper with 33 seconds left in regulation.
After annihilating league competition, Barkley was held to just 162 yards on 14-of-25 passing with two interceptions.
As a dual-threat quarterback, Price was kept in check on the ground (19 carries for minus 6 yards), but still managed to complete 18-of-25 passes for 218 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Mater Dei improves to 7-2 on the season and advanced one step closer to seizing the Trinity League Title. They will finish up their regular season by hosting Lutheran (7-2) on Thursday (11/13) inside the Santa Ana Bowl at 7:00 pm.
St. John Bosco falls to 7-2 and will now enter into a must win contest against Servite (6-3) on Friday (11/14) at Cerritos College for a 7:30 pm kickoff.
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