2024 Season.
8-24-24
#4 N, St John Bosco (W) vs # 9 N, Chaminade Madonna, Fl, 34-27. Very good game, hard hitting, both sides A+ D, A+ team speed. Big freaken boys. The visiting team has a 14 pts swing, SJB traveled to Fl. The true score = 48-27 or 34-13. Very impressed with both teams. SJB soph RB put on 25+ lbs according to C.Negro and held on to his speed. He ran for a 76 yd TD, out running CM DB’s with ease.
SJB Qb is OK, nothing special. He's the least talented Qb in 20 years for SJB.
#2 N, Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (W) vs # 11 N, St Thomas Aquinas, 29-21. Again very good game, very close. Both sides had A+ team speed and very huge OL and DL. Very impressed with both teams.
Mater Dei had better come out fired up when they play Bishop Gorman, 9-6-24. It’s gonna be a hard fought game. Mater Dei D might be the difference maker, in the end winning the game.
Didn't Lendak go to Mater Dei?
2-20-25
Wow, Ryan Hopkins, DT QB, 3*, 6-3, 200 lbs, J. Serra Catholic HS transferred to Mater Dei HS. Ryan Hopkins is very fast 10.9 100 m. Pass stats, 81/144, 56%, 1111 yds, 13 TD's. Rush stats, 58, 485 yds, 8 TD's. His passing stats at J. Serra was not impressive, but J. Serra was a run type O + Hopkins did not have top Wr's.
At Mater Dei, he will have top Wr's, his passing stats will go up. I'm excited and can't wait to see him run MD's O and lead the team. They needed a top QB, Hopkins is that missing puzzle. Dang, Mater Dei is gonna be a national contender once again... Cheers
2-01-25
Whoa, I was browsing around and just saw that Wr, Shane Rosenthal, 3*, Newbury Park, All SS CIF Player of the Year, All State CIF just committed to UCLA, 1-29-25. A Big Shaka to UCLA, Good Golly they got the man. SR was committed to Princeton and flipped to UCLA. I'm jealous, but great job by UCLA. They have smart recruiters.
This kid is gonna tear it up at UCLA and Big 10. He will be just like AA & All B1G LB, Carson Schwesinger, Oaks Christian HS who was not recruited. Watch this kid you guys, SR is gonna kill it at UCLA. Then, all the powers will go after him with big NIL $1.
Congrats to UCLA for the last minute recruiting & flipping him from Princeton. Stupid arse C. LR missed da boat on SR & does not have any clue evaluating talent... Cheers
PS. Shane Rosenthal makes my 5 stars WR, Shaka!
2024 All SS CIF Football Team.
Look back at my review about Wr Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park HS. He is one of the very best Wr's of all time in CIF history. This kid caught everything, fast, strong, has big time Mojo, just a winner. No big school recruited him, committed to Princeton. So many schools made a huge mistake not recruiting him.
Again, look back at my review about RB, Julius Gillick, Edison. This guy is another ASU, Skateebo, runs like a Tank. Again, hardly recruited, Gillick will be playing for U. Montana. Big mistake by all the big schools.
What more can you say about DL, Tomu Topui, Mater Dei. Tomu is one of the very best DL in CIF history. He is a beast, a Man among boys. Doubled team all season, he simply went thru them like water. Freaken Oregon got him, Dam it.
And, freaken C. LR won't recruit our Calif boys, what a dumb piece of sheet coach.
2024, All CIF, Calif State Football Team
12-16-24
Personal view about the CIF State Championship games.
I think the set up is unfair to our D-1, SS CIF HS FB teams. Over the years in the SS CIF playoffs, too many of our top teams are being left out of the State FB Championships. Example 2024 losers, St John Bosco # 2 Ca, Orange Lutheran-OLu # 3 Ca, Centennial-Corona, # 4 Ca, Mission Viejo # 5 Ca, Santa Margarita # 6, Sierra Canyon # 7, Ca, J.Serra Catholic # 9 Ca were left out.
Solution. Just like college CFP or tournament, the CIF should place teams (North, Central vs South) accordingly to rankings. Best vs Best, period! OK, this present system allows the greater majority of Calif HS a chance to win a State title (which in nice) but it’s not a good for true competition. Cheers.
What do you guys think?
12-15-24 Calif rankings, post CIF State Championships.
https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/football/rankings/1/
GOOD STUFF ! . I am anxious to see if Troy Thomas gets a head coach job ?
CIF State Championship Games, 12-14-24
Open/D-1. Mater Dei HS, # 1 N, # 1 Ca, 13-0 (W) vs De La Salle HS, Concord, 12-1, # 21 N, # 9 Ca. Both teams entered the game undefeated. Prior to the game, I stated never count out DLS, they will give MD a tuff time. End of 1st half, MD 22, DLS 0, stats MD 305 yds, DLS 22 yds; dam I thought wow I was very Wrong. MD was pushing DLS around like all the other teams they played this year. You could see the size difference, MD was way bigger than DLS and faster overall team speed. I thought wow this is gonna be a blow out. I'm gonna eat crow at WW board.
2nd half. Whoa Nellie, here comes DLS. DLS scored 15 unanswered pts in the 3rd Qt, closing the gap to 22-15 MD. Shoot, DLS pride and heart exploded, showing MD who they truly are. They were pushing around MD. DLS RPO did not work in 1st half and went back to their famous Veer run O. Never saw MD DL get pushed around like that. But, in the end, MD was just too good. MD's D said fock this sheet and put an end to DLS surge and unleashed their lethal passing game scoring 15 unanswered pts = 37-15 final score. What a Valiant & Courageous 3rd Qt by DLS. No question, MD is the # 1 team in nation.
Stats. Mater Dei: QB Dash Beierly, P = 17-27 355 yds, 3 TD. RB J. Davison = 110 yds, 2 TD. Shoot, DLS had no answer to MD passing game. They wanted to stop Davison at all cost and were vulnerable to MD’s lethal passing game. MD total team stats: 505 T yds, DLS = 165 T yds. How can anyone doubt Mater Dei after this CIF State game. MD D is the best in the nation!
PS. For 2025, MD needs a top QB transfer in, just like Dash Beierly. Their 2 QB reserves are not good. Top DT QB targets: Jaden O’Neal, 6-3, 210 lbs Narbonne HS, Ryan Hopkins, 6-3, 200 lbs, J.Serra Catholic HS, Jackson Taylor 6-1, 185 lbs, Thousand Oaks HS, Corin Berry, 6-3, 200 lbs, Charter Oaks HS, West Covina. These top DT QB’s would make MD once again a top team in 2025.
D-3. Edison, 12-4, # 18 Ca (W) vs Central, Fresno, 12-3 # 20 Ca, 21-14. After the State games, I would rank Edison # 14 Ca and Central # 15 Ca, they deserve higher rankings. Wow, this was a superb FB game. 2 very good, physical teams going at each other. Hard hitting and blocking all night. Dang, if anyone doubt & think Calif HS and players are soft is one Dumb Mofo. I was impressed how both teams play FB, they are well coached and in tip top FB condition. Freaken C. LR must go back to FB school and learn what FB is all about.
Edison: Ace RB, 3* Julius Gillick, 6-0 205 lbs is one Mofo RB. Last night he ran for 157 hard yds, 2 TD’s. It took sometimes 3-4 players bring him down. He plays like a 235 lbs RB. In my book, Gillick = 3++* RB, his average speed (est 11.8 100m) keeps him from being a 4* RB. He committed to Montana and had limited schools recruiting and offering him (stupid coaches and schools). He is another Skattebo-ASU RB, a Sacramento HS product who was hardly recruited and turned into a top 3 RB’s in college FB. Nah, this awesome RB Gillick can play D-1 FB. Gillick season stats = 2,650 T yds, 38 TD’s. Edison plays in a tuff league and played top FB teams. Gillick is special; he has so much Heart and runs like a Tank. Love this kid!
4th qt drama. With 20 seconds remaining it's 14-14 (I thought it's going into overtime). Central is in a prevent D, with 8 in deep coverage. Unreal, Edison QB, Thomson throws a perfect pass into tight coverage on a slant route to Wr Jake Minter. Minter shakes off 2 tackles for a 55 yd TD and the winning score and State title. Miracle play!
No question, Central HS-Fresno, is one dam good FB team! Co Champs in my book. Shoot these boys play very physical FB, hard hitters and blockers. They are a passing team supported by a hard run game. QB Dippel passed = 17/31 285 yds, 2 TD’s, season 3,500 yds, 42 TD’s.. Ace, 3* RB, Brandon Smith ran = 76 yds, season 1,950 yds, 26 TD’s.
PS. 4th qt mental errors. Dam Central Wr’s dopped 4 passes that killed 2 drives, which most likely would have produced the very least a TD. Heartache.
D-5. Palos Verde HS, 10-5, # 62 Ca (W) vs Twelve Bridges HS, Lincoln-Sacramento, 14-1 # 40 Ca, 55-19. Was this a big upset, record & rankings wise sure looks that way. But, PV is a very good FB team, seen them play 2 times this year. PV out played 12 Bridges in every facet of the game. 12 Bridges were the bigger team, size wise. But, PV faster, overall team speed.
PV has a scrappy and very good QB in R.Rakoviski 5-11, 175 lbs, Soph. Love this kid; he has all the throws, very athletic but most of all has Moxie and Mojo. Rakoviski passed = 350 yds + 6 TD's (tied the record with Jake Browning, Folsom HS). But, Rakoviski could have broken the record with 7-8 TD's, PV coach pulled him going into the 4th qt and played QB2 instead. PV has 3 very good Wr's, Koyama, Boyd, Aguirre.
Conclusion: in the top 5 State games: South 4, North 1. Once again (10 yrs in row) the South dominates the State Chamiponships. Normally, there's 1 to 2 just average games, not this 2024 Championships, all 5 were A+ games!PS.The top 5 Division State games: South 4 and North 1. Once again (10 yrs in row) the South HS dominates the State Championships. The top 5 Division State games: South 4 and North 1. Once again (10 yrs in row) the South HS dominates the State Championships.
Great Info . I was impressed with SEARCY .
CIF State Championship Games, 12-13-24
D-2. Lincoln, San Diego, # 10 Calf (W) vs Pittsburg, Contra Costa, # 13 Calif, 28-26. Great game. Both teams went after each other, very physical gamel. Both teams have A+ run game.
Lincoln: 4* QB Akili Smith played well passing and running for 176 yds, 4 TD’s. For the season: P = 2,500 yds, 24 TD + R = 550 yds 4 TD. Oregon got one hell of a FB player. I now think (change my mind) Smith has a good shot of beating out the Hawaiian QB for QB1.
Lincoln was without their ace RB, A. Jackson, but their 2 reserves played well and are very good RB’s, Curtis and Smith. These 2 RB’s pounded Pittsburg all night, moving the chains and protecting the ball. Lincoln has an A+ run game.
Pittsburg: Has a very good run game as well. Ace RB Jamar Searcy, 5-9, 180 lbs, 3* played great, running for 290 yds, 4 TD’s. No way Jose he is only 3 stars, He makes my 4*. Searcy is a complete RB, runs with power, very good speed (est 11.1 100 m) plays like he’s 220 lbs. Love this kid, ranked # 7 Calif RB, I put him # 3 behind # 1 4* J.Davison-Mater Dei and # 2 4* Karson Cox-Oaks Hill. Searcy committed to Wash St. He would do well at USC and UCLA or any D-1 FB program.
Pittsburg: QB Marley Alcantra, 5-7, 160 lbs (Filipino) is one hell of a QB. One of the best little QB that I’ve ever seen. He has all the throws, surprisingly throws the long ball well, good accuracy, good mobility and has Mojo and Moxie. For the season 3,100 yds, 42 TD’s. He committed to a D-2 school and should do well.
PS. BS, 2 weeks ago, Pittsburg loss to De La Salle (7-10 close game) for the NS CIF, D-1 playoffs, but get’s to play in D-2 State Championship game and represent the North. Every year the NS CIF do this BS maneuver. Whereas SS CIF D-1 losers, SJB, Centennial, Mission Viejo, OLu do not get placed in the State Championships. Not fair and it’s BS. Yeah, we all know the SS CIF have the best teams & dominate the rankings. Cheers..
D-4. Pacifica, Oxnard, # 35 Calif, 11-5 (L) vs Grant, Sacramento, 12-3, # 26 Calif, 28-35. Another great game. Both teams went after one another, very physical game. Grant has Big Boys (OL & DL). Pacifica gave up the size department, but had mucho team speed. Too bad someone had to lose.
Grant: QB. Luke Alexander, 6-0, 180, 2* is one hell of QB. I rate him 3+*. Luke has all the throws and A+ field general. He transferred from Folsom HS. Season stats: P = 3,450 yds, 42 TD’s, He has not committed to any school yet, strange only small schools offered so far? He would make a good QB for a lower D-1 school. I’m sure after this game, schools will start offering him. He had 2 top targets: 6-6, 220 lbs TE, Edwards and 5-10 Wr Shabazz, these 2 are A+ receivers. Plus, Grant has an ace RB, B. Lambert, season 1,600 yds, 9 TD’s.
Pacifica. QB D.Duran is a scrappy 3* QB, season stats: P = 3,200 yds, 36 TD. He throws a nice ball. QB2 threw for almost 900 yds Heck if the recruiting services gave him 3*, then Luke Alexander should be 4*, he’s the better QB. Pacifica gave up size but had better team speed. They have a A+ O, R = 2,300 yds, P = 4,100 yds for the season = 534 yds per game.
De La Salle needs to Dump their Off. Scheme if they ever want to win the state again . Correct me if i am wrong ,i believe they run a form of the VEER ?
CIF State Championship Bowl Games, North vs South. 12-13-24 & 12-14-24
https://www.cifstate.org/sports/football/champ_info
Don't forget to watch the top 5 bowl games. The Open/D-1 title, Mater Dei vs De La Salle. This will be an epic battle between 2 of Calif power house teams with mucho championships in their school history. Can't wait to see them play, Saturday, 12-14-24 on Spectrum TV. I'm having ono pupu's and ice cold Modelo's. Cheers.
SS CIF State FB Playoff. 12-06-24
D-2 Newbury Park, Ventura (L) vs Lincoln, San Diego, 27-34. This game featured 2 top Calif QB’s, NBPk Brady Smigiel, 6-5, 220, 2026 Florida St commit and Lincoln Akili Smith, 6-6, 235, 2025 Oregon commit. This was a hard fought game on O and D. Hated to see a loser cause both teams are A+ teams and worthy playing in the State Championship game next week.
Saw the game on TV. NBPk should have won the game, but 4 costly TO’s = 2 TD’s for Lincoln. 3 fumbles were due to sloppy play by QB Smigiel.
I’ve seen Jr QB Smigiel play 3 times thus far; he is a Pro style QB, little mobility, average accuracy, above average arm strength, plays sloppy at times. Hopefully, Florida St gives him an A+ OL unit; he needs good pass protection.
His # 1 target, Sr, Wr Shane Rosenthal, 5-11, 175 is one of the very best Wr’s that I’ve ever seen. Man, this kid catches everything, tuff as nails + very good speed (est 11.1 100m). Shane many times bails out Smigiel on bad throws and ends making an impossible grab. SR was lightly recruited and committed to Princeton. Shoot, I’ll bet the farm Rosenthal could play and do well at any big time FB program. He would do well at USC. Love this kid, he’s my kind of FB player.
I’ve seen Sr, DT QB Akili Smith play 2 times so far. He is big, strong, very athletic, very strong arm, but needs to improve on his throwing mechanics and accuracy. That Hawaiian QB Oregon just flipped from Cal is going to be QB1. As a switch from QB, maybe Smith could play Wr, TE, or DE?
Lincoln (South) will play vs Pittsburg (North) in the D-2 State game. Pittsburg is a very good team, they gave St. John Bosco a tuff time earlier this season, losing 14-34. Mater Dei will play De La Salle in the Open game, next week.
SS CIF Championship FB games, 11-29-24 & 11-30-24
Posted the brackets for all 14 divisions.
https://cifss.org/brackets/2024-11-person-football/?_sports=football-11
D-1 championship game, Mater Dei # 1 N, # 1 Ca (W) vs St John Bosco # 7 N, # 2 Ca, 31-24. Saw the game on Bally’s Sport TV between these 2 national FB powers (rematch game). It was a hard fought game with lots of O and physical D going on all night.
Again scores are deceiving.
1. MD QB D.Beierly was about to score a TD, but a SJB player knocked the ball out at the one yd line and SJB recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
2. On one SJB TD, MD had 2 consecutive 15 yd flags for roughing QB Malau = 30 yds (ticky tack BS penalties). Moving the ball in the RZ and 15 yd line. I did not see roughing which aided SJB score a TD. The true score should have been 38-17 Mater Dei.
SJB, 9th grade QB, Noa Malau played well, passing 14/26, 297 yds, 2 TD’s. Malau will have an amazing career at SJB when he's done playing. MD, All State RB, Jordan Davison rushed 28 times = 196 yds, 3 TD’s. MD’s O = 80% run, 20% pass; they pounded the ball and wore out SJB by the 4th Qt. MD was without their all league OLB Shaun Scott and other 1st string D players.
Next up in the CIF State game, it’s Mater Dei vs De La Salle. That is gonna be a great game. Both teams play very physical FB + well conditioned. I predict MD wins the title, 34-17 score. Can’t wait to see that ball game on TV, 12-14-25. Here are the schedules for all 14 divisions.
https://www.cifstate.org/sports/football/champ_info
SS CIF D-1 Playoffs, Semi Finals or Final 4, 11-22-24
Posted the brackets for all 14 divisions.
https://cifss.org/brackets/2024-11-person-football/?_sports=football-11
Side notes. Sad how these once power teams are no longer and in much lower divisions.
Teams that were once SS CIF powers.
D-1. Long Beach Poly was for many years D-1 and had many national ranked teams is now in D-4.
Once D-2 & D-3 powers, Muir now D-6, Hart now D-6,
Quartz Hill once D-1 and D-2 power now D-9, Alemany once a power in D-2 & D-3 now in D-9,
Crespi has won D-1 CIF titles is now in D-11, El Rancho which was a power in D-2 is now D-11
Eisenhower once a D-1 power is now in D-12, Palmdale once a D-3 power is now in D-12,
Anaheim once a D-1 power in the 60’s and 70’s is now in D-13, AB Miller once a power in D-2 & D-3 is now in D-13.
Sad to see how many public schools have fallen from grace. This is proof that the high cost of FB for players and teams has adversely impacted public schools FB programs. I would say that Calif talent has dropped about 50% to 60% pre 2000 and that there are so many talented and good athletes not playing FB anymore.
Very good final match up’s. I would love to see both of these games.
D-2 game, Murrieta Valley vs Newbury Park with 2026 class, 4+* QB Brady Smigiel committed to Florida St. Smigiel passing stats, 230 ypg & 43 TD’s. Murrieta Valley has top QB, Bear Bachmier passing 230 ypg, committed to Stanford, top RB Dorian Hoze 160 ypg. This will be an offensive shootout. I predict Murrieta Valley wins.
D-3 game Simi Valley vs Edison. Both teams are even and 50/50 type game. Seen both teams play this year and I can’t pick the winner.
SS CIF D-1 Playoffs, Semi Finals or Final 4, 11-22-24
Mater Dei # 1 N, # 2 Ca (W) vs Centennial-Corona, # 22 N, # 4 Ca, 36-7,
Did not see the game & can’t find game stats. Posted the LA Times game report below.
It was a rough night for USC bound, QB H. Longstreet, 10/23, 3 IT, 1 fumble. Centennial was without their 2 top RB’s, which gave them little chance beating this great MD team. Dam, MD has a Monster D, the best in nation. MD's D has been killing teams all season. MD was without their 5* RB, J. Davison so that should have given Cent some chance. When, I find stats, I will post them.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2024-11-22/corona-centennial-mater-dei-football-playoff-game-recap
St John Bosco # 7 N, # 2 Ca (W) vs Orange Lutheran (OLu) # 16 N, # 3 Ca, 20-17. Hard fought, close game.
Once again it’s MD vs SJB for the D-1 title next week and rematch, where MD crushed SJB 59-14, 4 weeks ago. It’s hard to beat a team twice in a season, but MD should win the rematch. My prediction 36-10, Mater Dei.
SS CIF, D-1 Playoff Games, 11-15-24
1. Centennial-Corona #5 Ca, #23 N (W) vs Mission Viejo, #9 N, #3 Calif, 25-20 Saw the game on TV, Bally's Sports, very good game. It was a hard fought game between 2 of Calif top teams. This was not an upset, in my rankings they were even, 50/50 type game. Too bad they had to meet in the 1st round & quarter's (only 8 teams in the D-1 bracket.
Cent meets Mater Dei in the semi finals next week. Both teams met 8-22-24 early in the season. MD won 42-25, but Cent, QB Longstreet did not play, out with an injury. I believe, this will be a close and different game. Cent will give Mater Dei a lot of trouble with Longstreet playing this time. MD had better bring their A game. But, I think MD wins a very close game, 38-35.
Cent, QB and All SS CIF, QB Husan Longstreet, Sr, 6-2, 195 lbs passed = 18/25, 72%, 236 yds, 1 TD, All SS CIF, RB Malachi Roby, Jr, 6-0, 210 lbs rushed = 187 yds, 2 TD’s, All league Wr, Corey Butler, Jr 5-10, 180, 9 reception, 157 yds, 1 TD. Man, I hope USC lands Longstreet vs Lewis. Longstreet is more athletic, stronger arm and can run. He throws tight spirals, mucho velocity, very quick release. Heck, he would make C. LR O lethal. RB, Roby is very strong and fast. Wr Butler is underrated, the kid catches everything and very fast. DE, Elijah Riley, 6-3, 240 was a terror; man this guy blew up so many plays and was all over the field. Riley is a dam good FB player.
Mission Viejo has a 2 QB system, Trudeau and Fahey, both are decent QB’s, they passed for 370 yds. MV has 3 top Wr’s, Phil Bell, Vance Spafford and Dijon Lee (DB + Wr). Man, Dijon Lee made tuff catches, Bama is getting one hell of a FB player.
2. Mater Dei, #1 N, #1 Ca (W) vs Sierra Canyon #8 Ca, #45 N, 33-13., All State RB, Jordon Davison, rushed 7 times = 117 yds + 77 yd TD. I think Davison got hurt and did not play for maybe 3 qts. He normally runs 20-25 carries per game, he ran for 7 times? All league QB, Dash Beierly passed 14-19, 72%, 234 yds, 2 Td’s, ran for 45 yds too. MD team stats: P = 234 yds, R = 160 yds, T O = 394 yds.
3. St. John Bosco, #7 N, #2 Ca (W) vs Santa Margarita #7 Ca, 31-29. Very close game. SJB meets Orange Lutheran in the semi finals next week. It will be a good game. OLu has a good shot winning the game.
4. Orange Lutheran, #3 Ca, #16 N (W) vs J.Serra Catholic, #6 Ca, 42-20.
NS CIF.
5. De La Salle-Concord, #9 Ca, #22 N has a very good team, they are destroying their opponents this season. DLS will represent NS CIF in the Open State game, in Dec 2024. They will give the SS CIF team a very good game.
11-01-24 SS CIF Games
Mater Dei, #1 SS, #1 N (W) vs OLu-Orange Lutheran, #3 SS, #15 N, 38-14 See YouTube HL video. Hard hitting game. OLu came out and played MD hard, both team played a very physical game. Like MD, OLu is a big (size) team as well. Again, the difference was MD’s D. And, who says Calif FB is soft? Just stupid thinking.
MD’s All CIF, Soph TE, Bowman scored on a 90 yd TD pass, but was called back for a penalty ( I did not see one?) BS. Again MD QB Beierly had a very good game, ran for a 76 yd TD and ran over LB’s. Man he is one strong running QB. All State RB, Jordan Davison ran hard and pounded OLu’s front 7, love this guy hard running style. Sorry could not find any game stats…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWDChKd6FlA
St John Bosco, #2 SS, #8 N (W) vs J.Serra Catholic, #6 SS, 44-24
Mission Viejo, #4 SS, #9 N (W) vs Los Al-Alamitos, #18 SS, 40-14
Centennial Corona, #5 SS, #23 N (W) vs Chaparral, # 17 SS, 54-12
Santa Margarita, #9 SS (W) vs Servite, #7 SS, 44-8 Big upset and scoring margin. I’m betting Servite had key players injured and did not play. Even with the win, Santa Margarita should be in the D-2 SS CIF playoff's draw/bracket.
The 8 team draw, 1-8 for the SS CIF D-1 playoff next week should look something like this. This 2024 playoffs are gonna be very competitive. The top 5 teams are without doubt top 25 ranked national teams.
Mater Dei
St John Bosco
Mission Viejo
Centennial
OLu
J.Serra
Sierra Canyon
Servite
10-27-24
Just a theory, but I think I got it figured out. I’ve seen a pattern with Mater Dei’s style of play. What separates these Mater Dei teams from 99% of all teams is they are Extremely Physical, they hit, tackle, block hard. MD's D is mean & nasty, almost like how the old (60's & 70's) Oakland Raiders played. One technique they do is gang tackle by one player grabbing the lower legs and the other 2 guys hitting them high. The other technique is picking up/lifting the QB, RB and WR and slamming them into the ground. OL drive block & pan cake. DL hard bull rush.
Mater Dei starts hitting hard at the start of the 1st qt. And, I’ve notice that most teams just give up and quit after 6 minutes. I think these teams must think, man we got to endure this hard hitting another 3 ½ qts? Every game MD is penalized mucho due to their rough play. The players ignore the penalties and just keep hitting hard. Shoot, I think they are coached that way.
The great teams of the past De La Salle, Canyon Country, Bishop Amat, Loyola, Banning, Carson, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley were extremely physical teams (hard run game and monster D’s). Remember back in the 50’s to 70’s the hard, pounding run game of USC, Bama, Michigan, Ohio St, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn St, Texas, UGA, Arkansas made them the top teams in college. Even today, the teams that have won the recent NC, Bama, UGA, Michigan, Clemson have a balanced O, but run an Old School, hard run game.
An Air Raid or passing type O in college has never won a NC. I believe if C LR just change his run game into more physical style and get his boys in top FB condition he/USC would be in the CFP. C LR teams lack top conditioning and soft. But, I notice this 2024 team is more physical (due to DC DA Lynn and other D AC’s). Hopefully, next spring camp and summer camp they practice harder and get in better FB condition. Cheers.
Is this Mater Dei team the best in HS FB history? 59-14 vs the #2 team is quite impressive.
10-25-24
Mater Dei, # 1N vs St John Bosco, # 2N. Once again big time match up; they are the top 2 teams in nation. It's a regular season, Trinity league game. The teams are pretty much even with the D edge to MD. SJB will have their new QB1, Koa Malau, 9th grader. Koa does not play anywhere like a freshman. MD's quick and speedy DE and LB are going to give Koa fits and trouble.
I predict MD pull out the win, 31-21.