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Mater Dei routs Centennial 36-7 in CIF Southern Section Division I Semifinal

hunterby:Hunter Shelton11/23/24

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Mater Dei opened its 2024 season with a convincing 42-25 victory over Corona Centennial on Aug. 22 in Santa Ana. That game did not feature Centennial’s star quarterback, five-star USC commit Husan Longstreet.

The pair of Golden State programs met again on Friday night, this time in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I tournament. This time, the Huskies were at home and Longstreet was under center.

It didn’t matter. Behind a masterful defensive performance, Mater Dei rolled to a 36-7 win. Longstreet threw three interceptions as the Monarchs scored the final 25 points of the game.

Multiple crucial mistakes buried any chance Centennial had against the nation’s No. 1 team. The Huskies entered the second quarter down just 3-0, but a Longstreet interception, as well as a failed fake punt attempt and a fumble deep in their own territory gifted the Monarchs a 22-7 cushion at halftime.

The Monarchs pulled away further in the third quarter thanks to a touchdown from Oregon running back commit Jordon Davison and a pick-six via Penn State cornerback commit Daryus Dixson. Centennial turned the ball over twice more in the fourth quarter, putting a bow on what was an ugly evening in Corona for the home team.

Mater Dei senior starting quarterback Dash Beierly left the game in the second quarter after taking a big hit and did not return. Sophomore Furian Inferrera played the second half.

Centennial, the No. 10 team in the On3 Composite, finishes the season at 9-3. The win keeps Mater Dei’s perfect season alive, as it now owns an 11-0 record. The Monarchs advance to the CIF Division I championship, where they’ll take on a familiar foe in St. John Bosco, which defeated Orange Lutheran 20-17 in the other semifinal on Friday night.

The two played earlier this season and Mater Dei crushed the Braves 59-14 on Oct. 25. The rematch is scheduled for Nov. 29 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, Calif. The pair have played each other in the Division I title game six times since 2016. Each team has won three of those games.