High school football: No. 1 Mater Dei runs by No. 13 Duncanville 45-3 in Texas-sized rout

In a highly-anticipated showdown between heavyweights from high school football power states, No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) breezed to a 45-3 victory Friday over No. 13 Duncanville (Texas). The Monarchs weren't phased by traveling halfway across country, the 95-degree heat or the 11,000 fans cheering for the home team just outside of Dallas.

Elite speed and the arm of sophomore quarterback Elijah Brown helped the Monarchs race to a 31-3 halftime lead. Brown, ranked the No. 4 sophomore quarterback in the country, completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns — all before the end of the third quarter.

Mater Dei's receivers, led by Notre Dame-bound C.J. Williams (six catches for 99 yards and a touchdown), had separation all night, giving Brown wide open targets. The Monarchs had more than 400 yards of offense by the end of the third quarter when it boasted a 45-3 lead.

It was second straight week a California team had its way with a nationally-ranked team. Last week, No. 3 St. John Bosco scored three unanswered touchdowns in the first six minutes en route to a 35-12 win over then-No. 15 Central (Miami). It's the second straight year that Duncanville has taken on the nation's No. 1 squad in Texas and lost decisively. Last season, the Panthers dropped a 41-14 game to eventual MaxPreps National Champion IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at Globe Life Park.

The fastest player in California — and sprinter in the state — showed off his speed and skill on Duncanville's first drive as USC-bound cornerback Domani Jackson took back an interception 38 yards for a touchdown, giving the Monarchs a 7-0 lead. The nation's No. 5-rated senior recruit overall jumped in front of Chris Hicks, evaded sophomore quarterback Solomon James and sprinted the final 30 yards untouched and Mater Dei was out in front. 

On the next drive, James found the hot hand and moved Duncanville down the field, but the drive stalled at the 5. Armando Benetiz booted a 26-yard field goal, making it 7-3.

It took one play for Mater Dei to take complete command as Oklahoma-bound running back Raleek Brown took a handoff and zipped 76 yards for a score.

Duncanville again marched down field but again James was intercepted, this time in the end zone by Josh Hunter. A long Mater Dei drive stalled and Chase Meyer booted a 25-yard field goal early in the second quarter, making it 17-3.

The rest of the half belonged to Brown, who not only showed a strong and accurate arm on touchdown passes of 37 yards to Jack Ressler and 8 yards to Quincy Craig, but also some nifty ball skills. Both passes were set up with superb play-action fakes. Brown completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Williams midway through the third quarter and freshman Jordon Davison added a 13-yard TD just before entering the fourth.

The game featured more than 40 players who have landed at least one FBS offer and was the first time a nationally ranked team from California travels to Texas since 2015, when Euless Trinity (Texas) upset No. 1 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 26-21.

Texas teams entered the contest with a 20-13 series lead against California squads since 2000.

Next week Duncanville hosts South Oak Cliff (Dallas), while the Monarchs will have a week off before playing at another out-of-state opponent, Henderson (Nev.) on Sept. 10.