2024 Preseason MaxPreps Top 25: No. 1 Mater Dei

Raul Lara takes over as head coach for defending CIF Open Division state champs.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Zack Poff
By
Jul 11, 2024, 9:00am
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Head coach: Raul Lara | Record: 0-0, first season
2023 record: 13-1 | National rank: No. 3
Last five years: 54-3 | State championships: 4 (2017, 2018, 2021, 2023)
First-year Mater Dei coach Raul Lara leads the No. 1 ranked Monarchs into the season after winning the CIF Open Division title last year under Frank McManus. Lara, who previously coached at Long Beach Poly, guides Mater Dei into one of the toughest schedules in high school football. (Photo: Heston Quan)
First-year Mater Dei coach Raul Lara leads the No. 1 ranked Monarchs into the season after winning the CIF Open Division title last year under Frank McManus. Lara, who previously coached at Long Beach Poly, guides Mater Dei into one of the toughest schedules in high school football. (Photo: Heston Quan)
Players to watch

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 225
Status: Committed to Oregon | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to Penn State | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to Ohio State | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 225
Status: Committed to Alabama | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215
Status: Committed to Oregon | Class: Senior (2025)

Key dates

Aug. 22 — vs. No. 8 Centennial (Corona)
Sept. 6 — vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Sept. 14 — at Kahuku (Hawaii)
Sept. 20 — vs. No. 14 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)
Oct. 11 — at Servite (Anaheim)
Oct. 25 — vs. No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Nov. 1 — vs. No. 24 Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Mater Dei wide receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (4), Marcus Harris (10) and Chris Henry (15) surround senior quarterback Dash Beierly, who looks to replace four-year starter Elijah Brown. (Photo: Heston Quan)
Mater Dei wide receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (4), Marcus Harris (10) and Chris Henry (15) surround senior quarterback Dash Beierly, who looks to replace four-year starter Elijah Brown. (Photo: Heston Quan)

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