Speaking of high school playoffs, out here in SoCal there's a monster game coming up next Friday. It's the rematch of Mater Dei (currently ranked number 1 in the land) and St. John Bosco which is set at number 4 presently but which looks to be number 2 after St. Frances (Baltimore) -- number 2 before this weekend -- was tripped up by IMG while current number 3 Central Miami just got by Miami Northwest, 34-30.
Folks might recall that the two Trinity League powerhouses met earlier this season when it was then 1 vs. 2 with the Monarchs turning the Braves back, 17-7.
Check it: This game -- which is for the CA State Playoff arrangement Southern Section Division 1 Championship -- is being played at the Rose Bowl (yes - the Rose Bowl where SC nipped UCLA in a shoot out last night, 48-45).
Mater Dei is on a 29 game winning streak and the level of talent that will be on display is off the charts.
Here's a clip from an article this morning on the match-up:
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Mater Dei-Bosco II for the Southern Section Division I crown will go down Friday, Nov. 25 at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The two teams have a combined 74 players that are rated as a two-star recruit or higher by 247Sports or have landed at least one FBS offer.
Mater Dei heads to the Rose Bowl winners of 29 in a row and 83 of its last 86 games since 2016. The Monarchs (2017, 2021) and Braves (2019) have combined to claim three of the last five national titles.
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That is not a typo -- 74 players that suit up are two star or better.
That's insane.
Course, the players are not just from the warm and sunny climes of football crazed SoCal but all over the west coast -- and I think there are a few Pacific Islanders suiting up too.
I have been to various of these local high school contests over the last many years and what is striking -- when you attend -- is that talent is so vast. It's not just one or two kids who are obviously "a cut above" it's the volume of personnel (you get a sense it's next level).
Being a southeast PA native I am not happy seeing the way PA has become an also ran in football with what seems to be less and less overall interest. That is especially so when you live in an area that still considers high school ball to be a religious experience (perhaps not Texas style as there are so many distractions out here -- but it's serious).
Folks might recall that the two Trinity League powerhouses met earlier this season when it was then 1 vs. 2 with the Monarchs turning the Braves back, 17-7.
Check it: This game -- which is for the CA State Playoff arrangement Southern Section Division 1 Championship -- is being played at the Rose Bowl (yes - the Rose Bowl where SC nipped UCLA in a shoot out last night, 48-45).
Mater Dei is on a 29 game winning streak and the level of talent that will be on display is off the charts.
Here's a clip from an article this morning on the match-up:
--------------------
Mater Dei-Bosco II for the Southern Section Division I crown will go down Friday, Nov. 25 at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The two teams have a combined 74 players that are rated as a two-star recruit or higher by 247Sports or have landed at least one FBS offer.
Mater Dei heads to the Rose Bowl winners of 29 in a row and 83 of its last 86 games since 2016. The Monarchs (2017, 2021) and Braves (2019) have combined to claim three of the last five national titles.
--------------------
That is not a typo -- 74 players that suit up are two star or better.
That's insane.
Course, the players are not just from the warm and sunny climes of football crazed SoCal but all over the west coast -- and I think there are a few Pacific Islanders suiting up too.
I have been to various of these local high school contests over the last many years and what is striking -- when you attend -- is that talent is so vast. It's not just one or two kids who are obviously "a cut above" it's the volume of personnel (you get a sense it's next level).
Being a southeast PA native I am not happy seeing the way PA has become an also ran in football with what seems to be less and less overall interest. That is especially so when you live in an area that still considers high school ball to be a religious experience (perhaps not Texas style as there are so many distractions out here -- but it's serious).