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Mater Dei football rebounds from tough loss, beats Orange Lutheran handily

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COSTA MESA — Six days after getting shut out by St. John Bosco, Mater Dei played like it had something to prove Thursday.

The Monarchs scored points on nine of their 10 possessions to beat Orange Lutheran 55-13 in a Trinity League football game at Orange Coast College.

Mater Dei lost to St. John Bosco 28-0 last week in a battle of teams ranked among the top 5 nationally.

Orange Lutheran running back Steve Chavez, center, stopped by a trio of Mater Dei defenders including linebacker Tanner Williams, left, in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Ajon Bryant (3) avoids a tackle by Orange Lutheran outside linebacker Talanoa Ili on his way to scoring a touchdown in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Nathaniel Frazier makes the catch and then proceeds to sprint to the end zone to score a touchdown against Orange Lutheran in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

A pass is just out of reach for Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, right, as Orange Lutheran defensive back Marcellous Ryan keeps pace in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei wide receiver Marcus Brown, left, beats Orange Lutheran defensive back Nico Marchello to make the touchdown catch in the opening minutes of the Trinity League game against Orange Lutheran in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Tj Lateef sees a receiver and fires a pass against Mater Dei in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran quarterback Tj Lateef, left, is sacked by Mater Dei defensive lineman Semi Taulanga, right, in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Ajon Bryant scores a touchdown in the second quarter on a run agaisnt Orange Lutheran in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Ajon Bryant leaves Orange Lutheran defenders behind as he sprints toward the end zone to score a touchdown in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Ajon Bryant sees an open field and runs toward the end zone against Orange Lutheran in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei coach Frank McManus signals to his players during the Trinity League game against Orange Lutheran in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran defensive back Ben Alefaio, left, steps in front of Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman, center, to pick off a pass in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman talks with his players during a break in the action against Mater Dei in a Trinity League game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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Senior quarterback Elijah Brown completed 7 of 8 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns.

Mater Dei touchdowns were scored by Ajon Bryant on runs of 25 and 65 yards, Nathaniel Frazier on a 65-yard reception and on a 1-yard run, Marcus Brown on a 26-yard catch, Jonah Smith on a 9-yard reception, and Mark Bowman on a 45-yard reception. Joseph Gutierrez and Dominic Zante kicked field goals for the Monarchs.

Mater Dei first-year head coach Frank McManus liked how his team recovered so well from last week’s loss.

“I think there was a renewed focus, a reviewed energy after the guys got past the depression, all the angers you go through when you have a tough game,” McManus said. “I was really most happy with our execution.”

Mater Dei junior linebacker Nasir Wyatt had three sacks, giving him nine sacks this season.

Wyatt said Mater Dei saw Thursday’s game as an opportunity to reestablish its status.

“Today was our statement game,” Wyatt said. “We definitely feel like we’re the best team, we still feel like we’re the No. 1 team in the country.”

Mater Dei, No. 1 in the Orange County Top 25, is 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the Trinity League. The Monarchs are in second place league. Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 2 in the county, is 5-4 overall and 2-2 in league.

Mater Dei concludes the regular season Friday, Oct. 27, with a league game at Santa Ana Stadium against Santa Margarita. Orange Lutheran plays St. John Bosco in a league game Friday, Oct. 27, at Orange Coast College to conclude the regular season.

The Monarchs took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, the scoring started with the Elijah Brown-to-Marcus Brown touchdown pass. Frazier’s 1-yard touchdown run was set up by Kainoa Davis’ fumble recovery on Orange Lutheran’s first offensive play. The Elijah Brown-to-Smith touchdown pass followed Jackson Campbell’s fumble recovery on an Orange Lutheran kickoff return.

Early in the second quarter Elijah Brown threw a short pass to Frazier to his left, with Frazier showing the speed that makes him one of the county’s top 100-meter track athletes, blazing up the left sideline for the touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

Bryant’s 25-yard touchdown run made it 35-0 and Zante kicked a 36-yard field goal on the final snap of the second quarter for a 38-0 halftime lead.

Orange Lutheran running back Steve Chavez scored on a 36-yard run 90 seconds into the third quarter to make it 38-7.

Elijah Brown threw his 45-yard touchdown pass to an uncovered Bowman, and Bryant bolted along the left sideline for an 83-yard touchdown run and a 52-7 lead.

The fourth quarter, played with a running clock, started with Gutierrez’s 37-yard field goal and ended with Orange Lutheran’s Brayden Henson scoring on a 3-yard run.

Orange Lutheran lost its league opener to JSerra 24-14. The Lancers then defeated Santa Margarita 28-21 and Servite 36-33.

Mater Dei won its first two league games over Servite 49-0 and JSerra 42-0 before last week’s loss to St. John Bosco.

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