TOUGH ONE TO TOP
What: Centennial Huskies (Corona, Calif.) vs. Mater Dei Monarchs (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Where: Santa Ana Bowl
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSN
Records: Centennial (1-0), Mater Dei (2-0).
National rankings: Max Preps – Centennial #9, Mater Dei No. #103; USA Today – Centennial #16, Mater Dei NR (#8 West); ESPN – Mater Dei #25, Centennial # 33
Last year: Mater Dei 51, Centennial 37
College committed players: Mater Dei – QB Matt Barkley (USC); Centennial – LB Vontaze Burfict (USC), WR Ricky Marvay (UCLA), QB Taylor Martinez (Nebraska).
Keys: Mater Dei – Keep Barkley protected and balance out the offensive attack; Centennial – Pressuring Barkley and improving OL play.
Mater Dei favor: Fourth year starting QB compared to first-year starter for Centennial.
Centennial favor: Speed and overall strength.
Predicted final score: Centennial 35, Mater Dei 31
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Santa Ana Bowl is a perfect high school football venue.
It seats 10,000 fans and they sit right on top of the field, almost ready to pounce into the fray.
It’s loud. It’s intimate. It’s alive.
The energy was feverish a season ago when Mater Dei (Santa Ana) outlasted Centennial (Corona) 51-37 and fans almost dropped from the edge of their seats from sheer exhaustion.
In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, the game featured a state-record 1,298 yards, 59 first downs and 12 touchdowns
There were 11 drives of 65 yards or longer, including seven of at least 80. There weren’t defensive breakdowns as much as there was offensive precision. Twenty two plays gained between 10 and 19 yards, 11 between 20 and 29 yards and six between 30 and 39.
The 3-hour and 15-minute offensive soirée was relentless, frenzied and nearly perfect.
“It was a magical night,” said Mater Dei senior quarterback Matt Barkley, the nation’s top recruit who completed 21 of 31 for 364 yards and two scores (see video highlights). “Unforgettable.”
“It definitely was special,” Centennial coach Matt Logan said.
But unsatisfying, said Centennial senior and UCLA-bound receiver Ricky Mavray.
“It was a nightmare,” he said. “That was a game we had and let it slip away. We’re definitely out to turn that one around.”
Most fans would give up their seat cushion and binoculars for a repeat performance.
At least, a copy of the end-to-end action.
But, like most sequels, especially such classics, that’s not likely.
Then again, there was "Godfather II."
This is a rematch you can't refuse.
“There’s a lot of new players on both sides and both are working out some kinks,” Logan said. “But they do have that Gatorade Player of the Year guy coming back.”
That guy would be Barkley, a polished 6-foot-3, 225-pound fourth-year starter who indeed last year became the first junior to win Gatorade’s National Player of the Year award.
With an entire new receiving team (see feature in Orange County Register), Barkley has looked almost mortal at times during a 2-0 start. He’s completed 29 of 49 for 532 yards and eight touchdowns.
The USC-bound star has also thrown four interceptions, almost half of his total of nine last season when he threw for 3,560 yards and 35 scores.
The new quintet of receivers, Derek Campbell, Victor Blackwell, Christian Maldonado, Andrew Roth and Ario Winston, are talented but raw.
Winston is slight (5-11, 155) but dangerous with 10 catches thus far, 228 yards and four touchdowns. Blackwell (6-0, 180) is only a sophomore and considered a likely Division I prospect. He has six catches and three TDs thus far, one coming on a 92-yard kickoff return.
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson called Blackwell special. Coming from the two-time national champion coach, that’s saying something.
Barkley promised this summer that Mater Dei’s offense wouldn’t drop off this season and that this group was equally athletic. It would just take some patience.
“I think we’ll be able to put up the same numbers (as last season),” he said. “We have a lot of athleticism and playmakers so it’s just a matter of getting the offense down.”
An extra game with the new pups – Centennial has had just one game, a sloppy 26-16 victory over Chaparral – might make a difference.
“I think at this point, yes, that is an advantage,” Logan said. “That extra game has helped them iron out some wrinkles while we’re going to have to improve in a hurry.”
Don’t feel bad for the Huskies as they have a bullet proof offensive scheme – Logan was one of the first in California to implement the spread 12 seasons ago – and numerous athletes to carry it out. They have averaged 42 points a game the last 11 seasons.
Quarterback transfer Taylor Martinez (6-1, 185) has already committed to Nebraska and after a shaky start, he threw for 206 yards and three scores last week. He also had an 80-yard TD run nullified by penalty and is considered the fastest player on the team.
He’s got a gifted trio to throw to in Mavray, Eddie Lopez and Geshun Harris. Then there’s senior three-sport star Zach Fazil who caught just one pass last week, a 76-yard TD to secure the win over Chaparral.
“We have a ton of hidden talent everywhere on this team,” Fazil told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. “We have so many great players, and everyone has their day.”
Rollinson is most concerned that the strong-armed and fleet Martinez will find his rhythm.
“He’s a handful,” Rollinson said.
The Monarchs hope to get a handful of him and if they do, the Huskies might have to rely on legitimate running threat Arthur Burns, a big physical 6-foot, 215-pound load who can help control the clock.
Not that the Huskies want to slow things down.
Last year, in fact, the Centennial coaching staff was upset because the chain crew couldn’t keep up with Centennial’s no-huddle attack. That helped Mater Dei’s defense rest.
Sort of.
The Huskies piled up 675 yards, which is believed to be the most yards ever gained by a losing squad.
“We stopped them when we needed to,” said a chagrinned Rollinson. “Bottom line is we scored 51 and won the game. We’ll take it however we can.”
Mater Dei would love a repeat offensive performance from talented senior running back Jaron Hytche (5-11, 200), who had a breakout game with 120 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Centennial. Junior Jordan Allen (5-10, 185) is also a talented runner and returner.
In fact, it was the Monarchs rushing attack (259 yards on 37 carries) that might have proved decisive against Centennial.
“That’s a game our defense wants to forget,” said USC-bound linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
Actually, it was one Logan never forgot and that was key for the Huskies reaching the CIF State Division I Championship Bowl Game.
“We over-coached (defensively) in that game,” Logan said. “We tried to do too many things instead of just letting our guys make plays. We changed that tactic the rest of the year.”
Indeed, the Huskies have plenty of defensive playmakers, led by the spectacular Burfict (see his highlight-reel hits), defensive lineman William Sutton, outside linebacker Anthony Whitlow and defensive back/receiver Nick Beasley. Another Division I prospect, 6-3, 245-pound junior linebacker Brandon Brown is out with a broken fibula.
The game, like most, will come down to line play and with four new offensive linemen the Huskies struggled last week. Logan said changes might already be in the works.
That could be a problem.
Mavray said that won’t be a factor. The Huskies are simply too motivated to let anything stand in their way. See revenge factor in this preview by the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
“We have something to prove,” he said. “We should have won (last year). We know it in our hearts, so we’re coming back for some revenge.”
Predictably, Logan isn’t playing up the revenge.
Not publically anyway.
He looks at the game as an opportunity to play on a big stage, which helps them prepare for a possible return visit to the state title game. Last year the Huskies lost 37-31 to De La Salle (Concord) at the Home Depot Center before about 15,000 fans.
Logan also likes that his players get to face a player of Barkley's stature.
“We tell our kids that someday on a Sunday down the road you’ll be watching the TV and saying, ‘hey, I played against that kid.’ “ he said.
Logan has had a couple of conversations with Barkley and came away even more impressed.
“One thing that doesn’t get publicized enough is what a nice kid and character guy he is,” Logan said. “He’s the kind of kid you want to cheer on. Honestly, I hope he has 14 great games this year.”
Logan delayed for a second then smirked.
“Minus one,” he said. “Minus one.”
Look for live updates from this one throughout the night. E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
See related video
Mater Dei-Centennial I
Matt Barkley I
Matt Barkley II
Taylor Martinez
Arthur Burns
Vontaze Burfict
Ricky Mavray
Anthony Whitlow
Nick Beasley