SANTA ANA — Mater Dei maintained the upper hand in its football rivalry with Servite on Saturday, April 3 but the Friars showed the gap might be closing.

The Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, never trailed but needed until the final play to secure a 24-17 victory in a hard-fought Trinity League game marred by penalties at Santa Ana Stadium.

Mater Dei (3-0, 3-0) sealed its ninth straight victory against Servite (2-2, 1-2) by sacking quarterback Noah Fifita around midfield on the final play and forcing a fumble as time expired. The Monarchs recovered the ball as their sideline erupted and streamed onto the field.

“This was a Trinity League barn burner,” Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. “This is Mater Dei-Servite. It’s two defenses that really, really played well and we made key throws at the right time to keep drives alive. We’ll figure out the penalties.”

Servite’s defense held Mater Dei to a field goal in the second half but it was a clutch one: a 35-yarder by junior Chase Meyer for a 24-17 lead with 4:16 left in the fourth quarter.

Mater Dei’s defense delivered a score on the first play from scrimmage, a 22-yard interception return for a TD by junior corner Cameron Sidney that loomed larger as the score stayed tight. The Monarchs, led by linebacker David Bailey and Raesjon Davis, also held twice after Meyer’s kick to preserve their lead.

But that county showdown will certainly be remembered for how Servite junior wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan used his combination of speed and jumping abilities to draw six pass interference penalties, often in duels against USC-committed corrnerback Domani Jackson, also a junior. Jackson competed until the end, notching a key pass breakup and a near interception.

“Mater Dei does what they do, right? They’re going to play man and we know that,” Servite coach Troy Thomas said. “I think (McMillan) is special and different. Covering him one-on-one is a nightmare.”

McMillan finished with six receptions for 103 yards, including a 32-yard TD reception.

The penalty numbers were equally eye-catching. Mater Dei finished with 22 penalties for 201 yards. One penalty in the second half negated a spectacular 36-yard TD run by explosive junior running back Raleek Brown. Servite picked up eight penalties for 102 yards.

Servite scored on its first possession of the third quarter to trim Mater Dei’s lead to 21-17. Fifita capped a 60-yard march with a 6-yard TD run in the middle of the quarter. The junior faced heavy pressure throughout the game but was best on the run in completing 11 of 23 passes for 154 yards.

Mater Dei led 21-10 at halftime behind a pair of big plays on offense and a defensive score.

On the first play of scrimmage, Sidney returned an interception 22 yards for a score. He played well off McMillan and broke hard on the quick out pass for his second interception.

Servite created its own momentum in the first quarter for a score. Defensive back Jack Kane recovered a punt that hit off a Mater Dei player at the Monarchs’ 37, leading to a 26-yard field goal by Cash McVay.

Mater Dei’s offense produced its first big play in the second quarter as running back Marceese Yetts showed his burst by breaking a 77-yard TD run for a 14-3 lead.

Servite’s offense responded with its own big play, a 32-yard TD reception from McMillan, who caught a pass over the middle and raced through tackles into the end zone with 4:53 left.

Mater Dei closed the first half strong, driving for a late score that also proved critical. The Monarchs marched 70 yards, converting a key fourth-down play, en route to a 2-yard TD run by Brown for a 21-10 lead with 1:56 left in the first half.

Freshman quarterback Elijah Brown sparked the drive with a 39-yard completion to CJ Williams on fourth-and-3 from the Servite 41. The connection highlighted Brown’s night in which he completed 7 of 16 passes for 115 yards.

Bailey finished with two sacks while Davis added one. Defensive lineman Ben Florentine registered two sacks and a tackle for a loss for the Friars.

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