John Bosco vs. Mater Dei for CIF Southern Championship

[CAMoleskinner]

It's not just PA.

Out here it's Bosco and Mater Dei tonight for the SoCal marbles in the CIF Southern Section Championship. Both are 11-1 with Mater Dei losing to Bosco 28-0 in the regular season and Bosco dropping a contest against one of the Hawaii studs (Kahuku - which hardly ripped it up this year at 11-2 including a 50-8 smackdown by Mater Dei and a number 50 national ranking in MaxPrep -- the Red Raiders got by Bosco 30-23 the week after the beatdown by the Monarchs).

Anyway, Bosco is number 3 nationally and Mater Dei is 5. There's a rumor the winner could jump Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman for the top slot.

Hmmm.

The final score came in at 35-7 Mater Dei (and by the way - the game was played at The Coliseum).

 

[CAMoleskinner]

Interesting article in LA Times about what led to Bosco and Mater Dei becoming super powers:

Column: How St. John Bosco and Mater Dei became superpower football programs

CIF rule changes helped pave the way for St. John Bosco and Mater Dei to stay on top in football. The Trinity League rivals meet again for the Division 1 title Friday.

www.latimes.com

 

[Fletchster1]

Impressive crowd if that 11k number accounts for just that one game.

 

[yesman3]

Interesting article in LA Times about what led to Bosco and Mater Dei becoming super powers:

Column: How St. John Bosco and Mater Dei became superpower football programs

CIF rule changes helped pave the way for St. John Bosco and Mater Dei to stay on top in football. The Trinity League rivals meet again for the Division 1 title Friday.

www.latimes.com

CAM..

“Revenge is a dish best served cold”!!
MD 35 SJB 7

We all knew it was coming.. reciprocal of last year’s season. MD having their stud DT back was huge, defense dominated the LOS & made big plays that were decisive. Elijah Brown did enough to be more than complimentary.
Doesn’t matter to me where they end up being ranked nationally, no one else in the top10 would have taken them down with that team intact. IMO..

 

[CAMoleskinner]

So true!!

 

[yesman3]

CAM…

I’m sure you followed the proceedings this year. As expected, it was MD’s year, they took down several National top 25 teams & Bosco twice. I figured championship game would be somewhat tighter, it was.

Your thoughts regarding “added” CA championship game vs DeLaSalle? Assume MD will be several touchdown favorites if play to their capabilities & normal level. They are the definition of the premier re-loading powerhouse!

 

[CAMoleskinner]

I don't think anyone will argue with Mater Dei being the favorite going in (although De La Salle is no slouch).

Actually, the Monarchs are a six touchdown fave going in (that is correct).

Still, both teams come in at 12-0 with the Spartans just squeaking by Pittsburg, 10-7, for the Northern Division title (the Pirates are the Spartans long time rivals but they weren't exactly world beaters this year at 12-3).

Here's a local paper's view of this match-up (from up in Concord - a little northeast of 'Frisco - which is home to De La Salle):

De La Salle football faces daunting test against Mater Dei -

De La Salle’s football team recently qualified for this Saturday’s CIF State Open Division bowl game against National No. 1 team Mater Dei.

pioneerpublishers.com

This is the "Open" Division Bowl and features the "best of the best" as are picked to play (might be like selecting St. Joe's to play La Salle in the final game in PA).

De La Salle last played a game on 11/22 (Pittsburg) and Mater Dei on 11/29 (St. John Bosco) so everyone should be rested. Notably when Mater Dei and Bosco lined up there were something like 45 to 50 D1 kids suited up between them (some crazy number as practically all the kids are going to the next level).

It's really become a concentrated group of schools that can compete at this very top level out here (the Trinity League down in OC and then Centennial out in Corona - public) - and maybe one of the privates in Ventura. Same up in NoCal. There are rumblings and grumblings about the privates winning all the finals the last ten years or so.

And if you think PA has too many championship games CA has a boatload of divisions and championships (with three times the population out here - 39M to 13M I suppose they should).

And despite being a generally left leaning and blue state CA is a football crazy place.

This game will be played at Saddleback College's field - check it out:

Saddleback College, Stadium & Athletics Complex - Steinberg Hart

www.steinberghart.com

I should go cuz it's nice down there but I can stream it.

How to watch (and a little more info on game):

How to watch Mater Dei vs. De La Salle in 2024 California Open Division high school football championship | Sporting News

www.sportingnews.com