High school football: Mater Dei finishes atop MaxPreps Top 25 California rankings after win over No. 2 St. John Bosco

California's shortest season — the first one conducted in the spring — essentially ended Saturday night, appropriately with a battle for No. 1 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.

Top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana) held serve by topping No. 2 St. John Bosco, 31-17, at Santa Ana Stadium behind four touchdown passes from freshman quarterback Elijah Brown and a big defensive play at the start of the fourth quarter.

Bosco, which got two spectacular touchdowns, one from sophomore tight end Matayo Uiagalelei and the other from speedy junior tailback Jabari Bates, looked like it was going to close to within a touchdown when quarterback Katin Houser was stripped of the ball by Quincy Craig and teammate Jacob Kongaika fell on it in the end zone. The Braves wouldn't recover.

Brown (14-of-23, 203 yards) had lots of offensive support from the running tandem of Marceese Yetts

and Raleek Brown, who combined for 26 carries and 152 yards, and the receiving trio of CJ Williams, Karon Ware-Hudson and Josiah Zamora (combined 10 catches, 184 yards and all four touchdowns).

With 59 players (31 for Bosco) boasting either 3-star recruiting rankings or FBS college offers, this was one heck of a spring finale, but it's also just the beginning. Only 14 of the 59 were seniors, meaning there's a whole lot more to look forward to between those two teams next season and beyond. The one Southern California team that could present big problems next season resides from its own Trinity League.

Third-ranked De La Salle (Concord) kept its almost unfathomable unbeaten streak against Northern California opponents alive — 30 seasons and 316 games (314-0-2) — with a 21-7 victory over 2019 state Division 1-AA champion Clayton Valley Charter (Concord). The Spartans also return many of the their top players, including a very talented 2023 Class.

There were few other close games in the final week, though previous No. 15 San Clemente downed previous No. 6 Mission Viejo, 10-7, on a 25-yard Sean Harry field goal on the game's final play. Arizona-bound running back James Bohls rushed for 132 yards. San Clemente vaulted to No. 8 in the final rankings and Mission Viejo fell to No. 12.

The other thriller among the Top 25 was Alemany's 25-24 win over Serra (Gardena) as a blocked punt and 50-yard return for touchdown by Tyler Scott and ensuing two-point conversion with three minutes to go won it for the Warriors. Alemany moved up two spots to No. 20, while Serra dropped to 22.

Though the spring season lasted only six weeks, it wasn't short to the players and coaches involved, said Serra (San Mateo) coach Patrick Walsh.

He helped start a California coaches group of more than 700 in December to fight for a season period. After leaders of the Golden State High School Football Coaches Community met three weeks with state politician, health officials and the California Interscholastic Federation, a season was salvaged. It was filled with anxiety and stress due to weekly coronavirus tests and COVID-19 protocols.

After his No. 15 Padres (5-0) finished the season Saturday with a 34-3 win at previously unbeaten St. Ignatius, Walsh was left with a mixture of feelings. Much like coaches throughout the state.

"It was the longest season ever," he said. "It wasn't short at all. It was a bitter, long painful journey that had a lot of anxiety and depression and ended with a lot of joy, a lot of love and a lot of brotherhood here at Serra. I can't be more proud of this group." MaxPreps Top 25 California Football Rankings