Mater Dei starts season strong with impressive, 45-3 win over Duncanville

Photo Credit: Mater Dei Athletics (@mdathletics)

DUNCANVILLE, TEXAS— There was arguably no high school football game not only this week, but the entire season, that was more hyped up than the Mater Dei vs. Duncanville game. It was a clash between two powerhouse programs from two powerhouse high school football states. After Mater Dei was forced to wait until the spring to play high school football last season, they came into this season with a target on their back as the number-1 team in the country (via MaxPreps). The Monarchs would start proving their number-1 status against Duncanville, the number-13 team in the country (via MaxPreps), who has a different mission this season. The Panthers took a devastating, 34-27 loss to Southlake Carroll in the 6A D1 State Semifinals, so Duncanville’s eyes are set on getting back to the state championship and winning it. But they needed to see the best in the country in order to prepare for that, and Mater Dei exceeded those expectations.

Duncanville started the game going three and out on their first offensive possession. However, the Panthers special teams fixed that, as cornerback, Damyrion Coleman, pounced on the loose football from the muffed punt. Duncanville got the ball back at their own 35-yard line after a roughing the punter call called the play dead. Mater Dei didn’t flinch. Five-star cornerback, and USC Commit, Domani Jackson, came up with an interception on the next play, and took it 35 yards into the end zone to give the Monarchs an early 7-0 lead (PAT good).

The Duncanville offense got going on their next drive, as they advanced all the way inside the Mater Dei 10-yard line. But the Monarch defense didn’t let them get in the end zone, so the Panthers were forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal. Mater Dei then showed their speed, as running back, Raleek Brown, sprinted 76 yards down the sideline to make the score 14-3 (PAT good). Brown, who is the number-2 running back in the Class of 2022 (via 247sports), is committed to play at Oklahoma. After the Duncanville offense was brought to fourth down, the Panthers decided to go for it. But a pass from quarterback, Solomon James, was intercepted in the end zone by Joshua Hunter, and the Monarchs took over on their own 20. The Mater Dei offense marched down the field inside the Duncanville 5-yard line, and the first quarter ended with Mater Dei up 14-3.

Despite the great field position Mater Dei had coming into the second quarter, Duncanville was able to force a 4th down. But Mater Dei kicked a 25-yard field goal, and extended their lead to 17-3. The Panthers were then brought to a 4th down on their next drive in which Mater Dei linebacker, David Bailey, came up with the stop to force a turnover. Mater Dei quarterback, Elijah Brown, then went to work, leading the Monarchs to the Duncanville 37-yard line. He then found Jack Ressler for a great catch and a 37-yard touchdown to make the score 24-3 (PAT good). After Duncanville was forced to punt, Brown led the Monarchs inside the Duncanville 10-yard line. He then capped off the drive finding Quincy Craig in the end zone, and made the score 31-3 headed into halftime (PAT good).

Elijah Brown picked up where he left off to start the second half, as he found wide receiver, CJ Williams, who is committed to Notre Dame, for a 34-yard touchdown, extending Mater Dei’s lead to 38-3. Brown kept connecting with his receivers on the next drive, but the run game capped it off this time. Freshman running back, Jordon Davison, made a good move, and took his first varsity carry into the end zone for a touchdown, making the score 45-3 (PAT good).

Mater Dei had officially put the game away from here; the starters filed their way out of the game as the fourth quarter went on, and the Monarchs started to drain the clock. Mater Dei had conquered the first of their many tests this season, and will fly back to California with a dominant 45-3 win to start the season.

Mater Dei starts the season off making a great case for themselves as the number-1 team in the country, as they head into a bye week 1-0. The Monarchs will stay on the road and take on Liberty High School out of Henderson, Nevada on Friday, September 10th at 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT). Duncanville starts the season with an unfamiliar 0-1 record. They will look to bounce back next week at home against South Oak Cliff on Friday, September 3rd at 8:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT).