Then-No. 1 Mater Dei suffered its first shutout loss in over decade against Bosco a little over a month ago.
But the loser of the regular-season meeting between rivals has come back to avenge the loss in five straight seasons. Mater Dei was the last team to sweep the season series in 2017.
On Friday, a different-looking Mater Dei team used two interception returns for scores, a first-half scoring drive and several big plays at critical moments in the second half to punch their ticket to the CIF Open Division final against
Serra (San Mateo) on Dec. 9.
Bosco gained more than 600 yards in a thrilling semifinal win over Corona Centennial last week but a smothering Mater Dei defense limited the Braves' rushing attack to -1 yard rushing in the first half.
Linebacker
Abduall Sanders put Mater Dei on the board first after intercepting Bosco quarterback
Caleb Sanchez and returning it 52 yards to the house for a 7-0 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
A fired up Monarch defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Bosco drive.
Mater Dei engineered a 12-play, 46-yard scoring drive that was heavy on the run, but got key throws from quarterback
Elijah Brown. The drive was capped by a 10-yard burst up the middle by
Jordon Davison and the Monarchs led 14-0 with just under seven minutes in the half.
In the second half, neither offense was able to gain traction as the defenses limited opportunity. But the Monarchs broke the game open with a 44-yard, third-down strike to
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on a go route. The game's biggest offensive play built the lead to 21-0 and forced Bosco's offense into a hurry-up mode.
The tempo worked as the Braves moved the ball into Mater Dei territory for the first time since the opening quarter and capped their first scoring drive of the night with an 17-yard pass to four-star linebacker
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. The juggling catch was his third of the season, all for scores, and cut the Mater Dei lead to 21-7 with 1:30 left in the third period.
The Monarchs completed their redemption on the ensuing Bosco possession with a 10-yard Zabien Brown pick-six, the second interception return for a touchdown of the night, and a 35-7 lead with 8:43 left in the game.
Bosco fumbled a punt inside its own 30 to start the fourth quarter. Mater Dei milked the clock with four straight runs its jumbo package before a play-action pass from Brown found 6-foot-3, 315-pound
Tomu Topui for a 15-yard TD reception and 28-7 lead.
