How Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco became high school football's hottest rivalry

Oct. 10, 2014 at St. John Bosco | Final score: St. John Bosco 28, Mater Dei 25
Though future NFL quarterback Josh Rosen threw for 201 yards and accounted for two touchdowns and top running back Sean McGrew added 119 yards rushing and another score, it was a 69-yard fumble return by Traveon Beck that proved decisive for the Braves. The Monarchs, who lost three fumbles and missed a 22-yard field goal, got big chunk plays from QB Jack Lowary (21-of-30, 343 yards) but no passes went for touchdowns. Mater Dei mustered only 36 rushing yards on 24 attempts. From there, Bosco (12-2) lost in the section's Pac-5 Division finals to Centennial (Corona), 48-41. Mater Dei (9-3) was eliminated one week earlier by the Huskies.
The three-touchdown margin was misleading as Bosco raced to a 42-0 lead late in the third quarter before freshman quarterback JT Daniels threw three late TD passes to make it reasonable. McGrew, a future Washington Husky, rushed for 218 yards and two touchdowns, Cross Poyer added two more rushing scores. From there, Bosco breezed to seven more wins to improve to 13-0 before losing 62-52 to Centennial (Corona) in the Southern Section D1 finals. Mater Dei (10-3) was eliminated one week earlier by Centennial. Oct. 21, 2016 at Cerritos College | Mater Dei 26, Bosco 21
Before 9,000 fans, the Monarchs broke a six-game losing streak to Bosco, keyed by a 75-yard punt return for touchdown by Amon-Ra St. Brown, an interception by Jalen Cole and a go-ahead TD run by Shakobe Harper. Mater Dei scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to break the streak. Demetrious Flowers rushed for two TDs and Re-al Mitchell accounted for 250 yards and another score for Bosco. Rollinson said the team's line play on both sides keyed the win. Dec. 3, 2016 at Cerritos College | St. John Bosco 42, Mater Dei 28It was the Daniels (18-of-24, 326 yards) to St. Brown show as the two connected eight times for 206 yards and two touchdowns as the Monarchs never trailed. Daniels, the top-rated junior QB in the country, also showed off his much improved speed, rushing for 97 yards. St. John Bosco introduced 6-foot-5, 240-pound sophomore DJ Uiagalelei as its first-time starting QB and he didn't disappoint, throwing for 243 yards and two long touchdowns. He was sacked seven times. Dec. 2, 2017 at Cerritos College | Mater Dei 49, St. John Bosco 24In a complete reversal of 2018, the Braves turned the tables on the Monarchs, winning one of the most exciting and memorable Southern Section title games in memory. St. John Bosco fought back from a 28-5 deficit, scoring 34 unanswered as Uiagalelei simply wouldn't let his team lose. He threw for 446 yards and five touchdowns, outdueling by a nudge his good friend Young, who threw 405 yards and five TDs. But Young was intercepted three times and Uiagalelei none. The Clemson-bound Uiagalelei completed the 34-point swing with two touchdown passes to Logan Loya (10 catches, 164 yards) to make it 39-28 with 8:52 left. Young responded with a 23-yard TD pass to Kyron Ware-Hudson three minutes later. Eventually, the game came down to a Hail Mary heave by Young from midfield. Eight players had a shot at the pass in the end zone, but Bosco's Kris Hutson came down with the interception to seal it. Two weeks later, Uiagalelei cemented his prep legacy by accounting for 477 yards and five scores in a 49-28 win over De La Salle for Bosco's third state bowl title and first MaxPreps National Championship. The following month, Young and Uiagelelei were selected 2019 national MaxPreps co-Players of the Year.