California high school football: Mater Dei Catholic hangs on for 26-18 CIF Division 2-AA state title win over McClymonds

MISSION VIEJO — McClymonds (Oakland) jumped out early, but Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) stayed the course and came away with a  26-18 CIF Division 2-AA state win, the second straight California crown for the Crusaders.

Mater Dei Catholic overcame two more interceptions and a host of penalties, buoyed by the running of three-star Anthony McMillian Jr., who ran for more than 100 yards, and three touchdown passes, two from quarterback Dominic Nankil. But it took a Chris Snyder interception with McClymonds driving deep in Crusaders' territory to seal the win.

It didn't take long for McClymonds to put numbers on the scoreboard ... on defense. Ferrari Miller Jr. jumped a Nankill pass on the first play of the game and saw nothing but green grass for a 35-yard pick-6 and a 6-0 lead with five seconds off the game clock. But Mater Dei Catholic answered with an 80-yard drive after the two teams traded three-and-outs capped by a 17-yard TD hookup from Nankill to Surahz Buncom.

A second-quarter Mater Dei Catholic drive fizzled, but tacked on a 36-yard Ricky Osuna field goal, one of two in the second quarter for the Crusaders' kicker.

McClymonds looked to close the gap before intermission, but a 48- yard was missed and Mater Dei Catholic took 13-6 lead into the locker room.

Mater Dei Catholic held McClymonds on downs to start the second half and the Crusaders marched 75 yards to bump their lead to 14 on an 4-yard McMillian TD run to the boundary halfway through the third quarter.

The Crusaders' then looked to put distance from McClymonds after a Paulo Aranalde interception on thew ensuing Warriors' possession. The Crusaders got big runs from McMillian and McClure, but Miller intercepted his second pass of the night to thwart the drive.

Mack wasn't able to do anything with the possession, but a Redmani Albert interception and roughness penalty set the Warriors up inside the 10. Jaivian Thomas' 4-yard TD to cut the Mater Dei Catholic lead to 20-12 with 1:22 left in the third quarter after the two-point conversion failed.

McClymonds got a break early in the fourth quarter after a penalty negated a great Mater Dei Catholic punt that would've pinned the Warriors inside the 5. Instead Miller took the punt and returned it to near midfield and Albert came up with a huge 19-yard TD with 7:46 on third and long several plays later. But the conversion failed and Mater Dei Catholic clung to its 20-18 lead.

Mater Dei Catholic answered immediately with a 51-yard scoring strike on a halfback pass from Rollin George to Buncom and the Crusaders were back to an eight point lead, 26-18. It was George's third TD pass of the season.