La Mirada football no match for Mater Dei, but the challenge was its reward

SANTA ANA –The goal for any varsity football team is victory, but in the stratified world of California high school football, the willingness to compete earns respect.

That was the case for La Mirada in its 58-7 defeat at the hands of the country’s No. 1 team, Mater Dei, Friday at Santa Ana Stadium.

In spite of the loss, facing adversity is valuable for La Mirada head coach Mike Moschetti and his players.

“At La Mirada, we will accept the challenge,” Moschetti said. “You are going to get hit in the mouth. All we ask of them is to play as hard as they can and have good body language.”

Quarterback Nehuel Garcia was La Mirada’s standout offensive player. He completed four of nine passes for 55 yards and a touchdown; he threw one interception.

Mater Dei’s victory was a rehearsal for next week’s Trinity League-opener versus St. John Bosco, Max Preps’ third-ranked team in the nation.

Mater Dei running back Raleek Brown, an Oklahoma commit, rushed for 108 yards on five carries and two touchdowns. Quarterback Elijah Brown completed three of four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown before being relieved.

Mater Dei built a 21-0 lead on rushing touchdowns from Brown and Jordon Davidson and a 49-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Cooper Barkate.

La Mirada broke through in the second quarter. A Frank Torres interception return of 37 yards set up the Matadores with a short field. On third and long, Garcia found Xavier Hicks for a 23-yard completion to the Mater Dei 1-yard line. Two plays later, Garcia scored on a quarterback sneak to bring the score to 21-7.

Mater Dei kicker Chase Meyer hit a 34-yard field goal to bring Mater Dei’s lead to 24-7 to end the second half. Then Mater Dei’s Ajon Bryant took the second half’s opening kickoff 93 yards for a 31-7 lead.

Six minutes later, Raleek Brown scampered 82 yards up the Monarchs sideline for his second touchdown and a 38-7.

Mater Dei scored three more times on career-first rushing touchdowns by Matthew Vaca and Andrew Cervantes and a 24-yard fumble return by Quincy Craig for a final score of 58-7.