Three of these Mission Viejo players — Olaijah Griffin (2), Elijah Collier (1) and Chris Mitchell (8) — are hoping for a big night when they play San Clemente on Friday in matchup of 9-0 teams in Orange County. Akili Arnold (6), a top junior running back, has been out with a knee injury since Diablos topped La Habra. Photo: Twitter.com.
Showdown week is finally upon us and it will be a statewide phenomenon this weekend, including No. 4 Mission Viejo vs. No. 12 San Clemente, No. 5 De La Salle vs. No. 13 San Ramon Valley, No. 6 Folsom vs. No. 15 Oak Ridge and No. 23 Oakdale vs. No. 24 Central Catholic of Modesto. We have no new teams in the top 25 this week but some shuffling due to closer than expected wins by both Chaminade and Mission Hills.
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(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Oct. 28)
1. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 9-0
Focused and determined Monarchs kept up their great play in the toughest league in the nation with a 51-21 triumph over state No. 21 Orange Lutheran. Junior QB JT Daniels completed 24 of 33 passes for 336 yards and five TDs while Amon-Ra St. Brown, the top-ranked senior receiver, had seven catches for 114 and three. We will never have a tie for Mr. Football State Player of the Year, but those two may present strong reasons for it by the time the entire season is complete. The MD defense also had a strong night in holding OLu to -10 yards rushing. Head coach Bruce Rollinson’s squad will end its regular season Friday against state No. 20 Servite of Anaheim. It really wasn’t too many years ago when the Friars were winning those rivalry games, but there hasn’t been any chinks in the Monarchs’ armor all year.
