Mater Dei, St. John Bosco Add Another Chapter to Storied High School Football Rivalry

Christmas came early for high school football fans as two of the top four teams in the On3 Composite Football Rankings square off to keep their hopes of winning a state championship alive.

The Monarchs are the consensus top team in high school football, based on the compiled rankings from CalPreps, ESPN, SI, MaxPreps, and the On3 Massey Ratings. They’ve lived up to that billing by going 9-0 before the Southern Section tournament.

Their impressive performances against other powerhouse teams, such as Kahuku, Bishop Gorman, and St. Frances Academy, are included in that count. The Monarchs’ dominance continued in the Southern Section tournament after defeating Sierra Canyon by 20 points and Centennial by 29.

Meanwhile, according to CalPreps and the On3 Composite Football Rankings, the Braves are California’s second-best team. They have won 11 of 12 games this season, including hard-fought playoff victories against Santa Margarita (31-29) and Orange Lutheran (20-17). Those wins had them crossing paths with their bitter rivals once more, but with higher stakes.

Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco – Head-to-Head History

The Monarchs have the last laugh in this storied rivalry by demolishing the Braves during their Oct. 25 matchup. Mater Dei established a 45-0 halftime lead and never looked back to secure an 8-0 record. Conversely, it’s the only loss St. John Bosco suffered this season.

However, as SI.com’s Mitch Stephens pointed out, that victory meant the two California high school football squads split their last four games. St. John Bosco won their 2022 playoffs encounter (24-22) and 2023 regular season match (28-0). Meanwhile, Mater Dei defeated the Braves during the 2023 playoffs 35-7.

Since 1966, the Monarchs have a 31-13 advantage in their head-to-head matchups and a 1,233-761 edge in total points scored. However, the Braves have more shutout victories (2-1) and have defeated Mater Dei in two of their last three playoff showdowns.

The Monarchs and the Braves have met in the Southern Section Division 1 championship game six games, splitting the results evenly.

A High School Football Clash Resembling a College Football Game

Like previous editions, the upcoming Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco faceoff will feature several athletes committed to the top college football programs.

The stacked Monarchs roster has offensive gems in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. (Ohio State). He’s the top-ranked player in his position and the third-best player in the nation. Aside from Henry, quarterback Dash Beierly (Washington) can tap any of his talented teammates to keep the chains going. They have wideout Marcus Harris (Oklahoma), running back Jordon Davison (Oregon), and tight end Mark Bowman. Kodi Greene (Oregon) and Sione Tohi (Arizona) provide stability in the offensive line.

Meanwhile, St. John Bosco must decode a Mater Dei defense featuring college-bound prospects Chuck McDonald (Alabama), Daryus Dixson (Penn State), Nasir Wyatt (Oregon), Tomuhini Topui (Oregon), Abduall Sanders (Alabama), and Semi Taulanga (Utah).

Conversely, the Braves have an enviable talent collection on offense, starting with quarterbacks Koa Malau’ulu and Brodie Scheinberg. Their heads-up play activates wide receivers Christian Davis, Madden Williams, and Daniel Odom. Don’t sleep on St. John Bosco’s defense because of edge rusher Epi Sitanilei (UCLA), cornerback Joshua Holland (USC), and edge rusher Dutch Horisk (Oregon).