Thirty-nine days left until the preseason MaxPreps No. 1 team —
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) — begins its 2021 season. Each year, the Monarchs put together one of the toughest schedules in the country and this season will be no different.
The Monarchs open Aug. 20 against Inland Empire power, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and the matchup against the Huskies is one of four games against
preseason MaxPreps Top 100 teams. Bruce Rollinson's group could add another as Mater Dei is still looking for opponents on Sept. 3 and Sept. 11.
Recently, MaxPreps released our
Top 10 Games of the Year and the Monarchs were featured in three, headlined by the Aug. 27 Texas showdown against No. 15 Duncanville (Texas). It's the first time since 2015 that a nationally-ranked team from California travels to the Lone Star State.
The Monarchs begin Trinity League action Oct. 1 with have a huge road test against perennial foe and No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower). These two powerhouse programs closed out last spring as Mater Dei rolled to a 34-17 win to wrap up a 5-0 season.
Three weeks after taking on the Braves, the Monarchs host No. 21 Servite (Anaheim) before wrapping up the regular season against JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) on Oct. 29.
This is the third time in five years Rollinson and the Monarchs begin the season ranked as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 and have the talent to back up that lofty ranking. They have nearly 30 players with at least one FBS offer, headlined by five-star cornerback
Domani Jackson, four-star linebacker
David Bailey, four-star running back
Raleek Brown, four-star wide receiver
C.J. Williams, and sophomore quarterback
Elijah Brown.
Later this summer we will release our Top 10 toughest schedules and you can bet Mater Dei will be at or near the top.
Elijah Brown, Mater Dei
Photo by Heston Quan
Aug. 20 — at No. 29 Centennial (Corona)
Aug. 27 — at No. 15 Duncanville (Texas)
Sept. 3 — vs. TBA
Sept. 11 — vs. TBA
*Trinity League Showcase
Sept. 24 — vs. La Mirada
Oct. 1 — at No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Oct. 8 — at Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Oct. 15 — vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
Oct. 23 — vs. No. 21 Servite (Anaheim)
Oct. 29 — vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
