Five keys to watch in the football showdown Saturday, April 3 between No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 2 Servite at Santa Ana Stadium at 7 p.m:

1. What is the status of Servite tight end/linebacker Keyan Burnett?

The USC commit didn’t play in a 38-28 loss at St. John Bosco last week due to injury, and that hurt the Friars on both sides of the ball. Burnett is a 6-foot-5, 217-pound target on offense who can help quarterback Noah Fifita in pressure situations and take some of the workload off No. 1 wide receiver Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan. Burnett also can play some snaps for a defense that lacks depth and rotates two-way players.

Decisions on injuries can be tricky and there is more to consider in a season shortened and delayed due to the pandemic. Remember, Burnett is a huge piece for a Friars’ team that could be even better this coming fall.

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2. Who wins TMac versus Domani Jackson?

Does it get much better than this? The 6-foot-4 McMillan, arguably the county’s top receiver as a junior, against arguably the best cornerback in the 6-foot-2 Domani Jackson of Mater Dei, a junior committed to USC.

How good is TMac? Last week, he didn’t have a catch in the first half but finished with eight receptions for 168 yards and two TDs in just the final two quarters.

Expect an intense duel but perhaps some postgame college recruiting by Jackson. He’s considered the No. 1 recruit in the state in the class of 2022 and a major piece of a Monarchs’ defense loaded with speed.

3. How well does Mater Dei’s offensive line protect Elijah Brown and run block?

Servite’s defense is quick and aggressive, so Mater Dei faces its biggest challenge in protecting freshman quarterback Elijah Brown. Mater Dei has only allowed one sack against JSerra and Orange Lutheran but Servite’s unit operates at a different speed. It will also be interesting to see how well the Monarchs pound the ball after being contained at times against Orange Lutheran last week. Mater Dei ran the ball 33 times for 211 yards, but 61 yards came on two carries.

Trinity Football Podcast: Scotty on the keys to the game for Mater Dei:
Full episode>>https://t.co/cxLVN4C4VM @TrinityFBPod pic.twitter.com/L3QWc3Pkrc

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) April 3, 2021

But speaking of fast defenses, Mater Dei’s unit is blazing quick led by USC-bound senior outside linebacker Raesjon Davis. The Friars’ ground attack and protection of Fifita also will be tested.

4. Will Servite adjust and improve its kickoff coverage?

St. John Bosco exploded for some long kickoff returns in the second half last week to help spark their rally against Servite. The Friars opted to kick away but perhaps they will deploy a different strategy against Mater Dei, which also features some athletic return options such as Marceese Yetts and CJ Williams.

Trinity Football Podcast: Special teams are definitely a key to watch in the Mater Dei-Servite game tonight
Full episode>>https://t.co/cxLVN4C4VM pic.twitter.com/djt7R7vmDX

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) April 3, 2021

5. Which team will play the cleanest?

Emotions always ride high in rivalry games but penalties can prove costly, especially if the score is close. Servite showed composure amid adversity last week and avoiding penalties would help its chances of the upset. Discipline was one of the Friars’ under-the-radar strengths during Troy Thomas’ first tenure at Servite. Mater Dei, meanwhile, racked up 10 penalties for 91 yards last week against Orange Lutheran, lost two fumbles and had a pass intercepted. The Friars’ lone turnover against St. John Bosco came on a deep pass from Fifita.

The team that plays the cleanest will certainly gain an advantage in this showdown.

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