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CORONA — Mater Dei’s football team began a new era Friday with a similar result.
A victory against Centennial.
The Orange County powerhouse beat its rival from the Inland Empire for the fifth consecutive time with a 28-14 triumph in the head coaching debut of Mater Dei’s Frank McManus.
Before a sellout crowd at Centennial High for the season-opening game, the Monarchs led 21-0 before the Huskies charged in the fourth quarter to give the Monarchs a major scare.
Centennial’s Tayten Beyer returned an interception 55 yards for a score with 4:34 left in the fourth to trim the lead to 21-14, but the Monarchs responded with a 5-yard TD run by Nathaniel Frazier with 2:22 remaining to seal the victory.
Stanford-committed quarterback Elijah Brown tossed two touchdowns to lead Mater Dei’s offense while the Monarchs’ defense recorded eight sacks and recovered a key fumble in the fourth.
“There’s a lot to learn and grow from today,” McManus said. “When (we) look at the film, there’s definitely some opportunities that we can look at and I think we’ll make those fixes.
“(But) any time you get a W it’s a good thing,” the coach added, “especially against Corona Centennial. That’s a top team. … We’ll get better.”
Mater Dei entered the season ranked No. 1 in the nation in several polls, including MaxPreps and High School Football America (HSFA). The Monarchs’ placement was expected because of the high number of talented, returning starters on both sides of the ball.
The most compelling storyline of the offseason was the promotion of McManus to head coach in March.
The team’s defensive backs coach replaced longtime coach Bruce Rollinson, who surprised many by announcing his retirement before the playoffs began last season.
Rollinson, who built Mater Dei into a national juggernaut during a 34-year run, stated earlier in the season that he would likely return in 2023 and continue to coach in his 70s.
After the Monarchs fell to St. John Bosco in the CIF-SS Division 1 final last season, Rollinson simply stated it was “time to get another person at the helm.” The program had been dogged by a hazing allegation but Rollinson’s departure created an opening for McManus.
Win #1 for Coach Frank McManus of Mater Dei wasn’t easy against a very good opponent but he’ll take it and look for the Monarchs to improve @ocvarsity pic.twitter.com/9P6OqbfaMs
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) August 19, 2023
As Mater Dei’s new coach Friday, McManus’ demeanor reflected what he showed during summer passing competitions. In warmups, he engaged players with high-fives and flashed a smile before heading to the locker room.
But when it came to Mater Dei’s traditional pregame march, Brown led the team onto the field.
“They seemed business as usual,” said Centennial Corona coach Matt Logan, whose team last beat Mater Dei in 2015 in the section finals. “I know they made some mistakes but they seemed business as usual and they got all those returning starters and they’re a great team.”
“Maybe they came in and took us lightly,” Logan added. “Maybe they have a little respect for us now.”
Centennial found some success running the ball in the second half. Running back Cornell Hatcher scored on a 4-yard TD run early in the fourth as the Huskies trimmed the Monarchs’ lead to 21-7.
Centennial was driving again when it fumbled a handoff at the Mater Dei 36 with 5:32 left. The play loomed significant about a minute later on the interception return by Beyer made it 21-14.
“It was great,” Logan said of the interception by the San Diego State committed Beyer. “We just needed somebody to step up and make that play.”
Brown overcame a slow start by tossing a 23-yard touchdown on a fourth-down play to a leaping Marcus Brown to open the scoring early in the second quarter.
The Monarchs drove 75 yards for the score after the first of two sacks by linebacker Abduall Sanders forced the Huskies to turn the ball over on downs.
On Mater Dei’s next possession, running back Jordon Davison capped another long scoring drive with a 6-yard TD run. The junior finished with 117 yards on 19 carries.
The Monarchs’ defense posted four sacks in the first half against quarterback Husan Longstreet. Linebacker Ramere Davis added two sacks early in the second half.
Sophomore outside linebacker Shawn Scott also finished with two sacks.
“I thought the defense played outstanding,” McManus said. “They only gave up seven points.”
Elijah Brown threw a 35-yard TD to a wide open Jonah Smith in the third quarter as the Monarchs opened a 21-0 lead. The senior finished 17 of 29 for 191 yards in improving to 30-1 as a starter.
On its final scoring drive, Mater Dei covered 65 yards in about two minutes on six plays — all runs by either Davison or Frazier.
Hatcher finished with 98 yards on 20 carries.
Next week, Mater Dei travels to play Bingham of Utah on Saturday, Aug. 26. Bingham lost its season opener to Long Peak of Utah 27-7 on Aug. 10 but bounced back Friday to defeat in-state foe Crimson Cliffs 26-23.
McManus was already thinking about the preparation for Bingham moments after notching his first victory. He also remembered the advice he received from Rollinson before Friday.
“Have fun, stay positive,” he said.
Centennial, ranked No. 22 by HSFA, travels next week to Orange County to face Santa Margarita on Friday, Aug. 25, at Saddleback College.
