The Big 3 in California were impressive. Very much so.
Top-ranked Mater Dei, also the national No. 1, raced to a 24-6 halftime lead and were never really threatened in the much-anticipated showdown with No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), en route to a 34-18 victory.
Mater Dei quarterback
Bryce Young raced literally and figuratively to the top of the National Player of the Year leaderboard by for accounting for 354 yards and rushing for four touchdowns. The previous week Young threw for a school-record 528 yards and seven touchdowns in a 71-21 win over another out-of-state power, Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.).
MATER DEI LEAVES NO DOUBT: Story
Video: No. 1 Mater Dei takes down No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) Bryce Young rushes for four touchdowns leading the Monarchs to a wire-to-wire victory.
Second-ranked St. John Bosco (Bellflower) didn't play its best, but easily handled another Maryland power, Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 31-8 and third-ranked De La Salle jumped to a 28-0 lead against previous state No. 5 state and national No. 22 Folsom, en route to a 42-27 victory.
More highlights from a telling week.
Last week's ranked teams went a combined 20-5, though four of the losses came against other state Top 25 teams.
The lone loss not against a ranked opponent was a stunner as previous No. 4 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) dropped a 45-27 decision to Helix (La Mesa), which moved into the No. 25 spot with the victory. Cathedral Catholic, which the week before upset Centennial (Corona), dropped four spots to No. 8.
Kamryn Brown threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and running back
Elelyon Noa accounted for 197 yards and three scores for Helix.
The biggest climber and dropper surfaced due to the almost shocking 44-7 victory from previous No. 24 Alemany (Mission Hills) over previous No. 13 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village).
Miller Moss threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns and
Floyd Chalk rushed for three touchdowns for Alemany, which jumped 11 spots to No. 13. Oaks Christian, which trailed 44-0, dropped to No. 20.
Jaden Casey threw for 265 yards and six touchdowns as No. 12 Calabasas, coming off a tough double-overtime loss to Serra (Gardena), won a wild
46-35 back-and-forth game to previous No. 15 La Habra. Three of his touchdowns went to LSU commit
Jermaine Burton.
Jaden Casey, Calabasas
File photo by Jace Kessler
1. (last week 1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana)Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) 34-18
Next game: Sept. 27 at St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) 31-8
Next game: Sept. 21 vs. Mililani (Hawaii)
3. (3) De La Salle (Concord)Record: 3-1
Last week: Beat Folsom 42-27
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. Buchanan (Clovis)
4. (6). Centennial (Corona)Record: 2-2
Last week: Beat Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 63-29
Next game: Sept. 20 at Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
5. (7) Mission Viejo Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat Villa Park 59-0
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. St. Mary's (Stockton)
Record: 2-1
Last week: Lost to De La Salle (Concord) 42-27
Next game: Sept. 20 at Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
7. (9) Narbonne (Harbor City)Record: 3-1
Last week: Beat Orange Lutheran (Orange) 38-0
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. Serra (Gardena)
8. (4) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)Record: 3-1
Last week: Lost to Helix (La Mesa) 45-27
Next game: Sept. 20 at Eastlake (Chula Vista)
9. (8) Serra (Gardena)Record: 3-0
Last week: Beat Long Beach Poly 27-24
Next game: Sept. 20 at Narbonne (Harbor City)
10. (10) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley)Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat Oak Hills (Hesperia) 48-0
Next game: Sept. 27 vs. Westlake (Westlake Village)
12. (12) CalabasasRecord: 3-1
Last week: Beat La Habra 46-35
Next game: Sept. 20 at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
13. (24) Alemany (Mission Hills)
Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 44-7
Next game: Sept. 20 at Downey
14. (14) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)Record: 3-1
Last week: Beat Valencia 28-10
Next game: Sept. 20 at St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs)
16. (15) La Habra Record: 2-2
Last week: Lost to Calabasas 46-35
Next game: Sept. 20 at Diamond Ranch (Pomona)
Record: 3-1
Last week: Beat Central Catholic (Modesto) 49-27
Next week: Sept. 27 at Mission Viejo
18. (18) Central (Fresno)Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat Paso Robles 49-0
Next game: Sept. 20 at Turlock
Record: 3-0
Last week: Beat Paraclete (Lancaster) 22-7
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. Birmingham (Lake Balboa)
20. (13) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
Record: 2-2
Last week: Lost to Alemany (Mission Hills) 44-7
Next game: Sept. 20 at Murrieta Valley
21. (21) NorcoRecord: 3-0
Last week: Beat Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 49-28
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. Redlands East Valley (Redlands)
22. (20) Liberty (Brentwood)Record: 4-0
Last week: Beat Monte Vista (Danville) 24-21
Next game: Sept. 21 vs. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) at Freedom (Oakley)
23. (22) Servite (Anaheim)Record: 2-1
Last week: Beat Cajon (San Bernardino) 45-21
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. Villa Park
24. (23) Buchanan (Clovis)Record: 3-1
Last week: Beat Liberty (Bakersfield) 19-17
Next game: Sept. 20 at. De La Salle (Concord)
25. (NR) Helix (La Mesa)
Record: 3-1
Last week: Beat Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 45-27
Next game: Sept. 20 vs. St. Augustine (San Diego)
