Mater Dei Football Starts Strong in Season Opener, Centennial Coach Remains Positive Despite Loss
The highly anticipated season opener between Mater Dei and Corona Centennial showcased two top-ranked high school football teams. Mater Dei, ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation, emerged victorious with a 28-14 win over Centennial. However, despite their defeat, Centennial coach Matt Logan expressed optimism and told his team that they were right there.
Centennial has the potential for significant improvement throughout the season, especially with the addition of new quarterback Husan Longstreet. Despite facing a relentless rush and being sacked eight times, Longstreet showed promise in his debut. Mater Dei, on the other hand, proved to be a formidable team with a potent running game, a strong defense, and a reliable quarterback in Elijah Brown.
Centennial plans to enhance its home field before the next game in September, adding LED lights and a video scoreboard. Meanwhile, other high school football games in Southern California also provided excitement and standout performances. Huntington Beach impressed by starting a freshman at quarterback and coming away with a victory. St. Bonaventure showcased the talents of the Glover brothers, Kaden and Koen, in a win against Bishop Alemany. Granada Hills and Franklin had a thrilling game that ended in a tied score, with dramatic plays in the final moments.
Several notable games took place on Saturday, including Crespi’s thrilling overtime win over Grace Brethren, led by standout sophomore running back Damanie Bell. Foothill secured a close victory with a goal-line stand against Bishop Diego, while Valencia pulled off an upset against Bishop Amat behind the efforts of running back Aidan Hicks.
Among the few upsets was Santa Monica’s triumph over Calabasas, with Carter Paysinger back at the helm as coach. Looking ahead, there are several highly anticipated matchups scheduled for the coming week, including Sierra Canyon vs. Oaks Christian, Gardena Serra vs. Warren, Long Beach Poly vs. Bishop Gorman in Oregon, and Birmingham at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
According to The Times’ top 25 high school football rankings, Mater Dei retained the No. 1 spot, followed by St. John Bosco at No. 2 and Corona Centennial at No. 3. Additionally, Birmingham and San Juan Hills have broken into the top 25, making waves in the City Section and Southern Section, respectively.
In other news, the CIF Southern Section has signed a new six-year deal with Play On! Sports and NFHS Network to broadcast high school football games. The agreement will see a 13% increase in media coverage compared to the previous year.
While high school sports continue to evolve, some argue that the focus on immediate success and transfer culture detracts from the value of perseverance and competition. The importance of hard work, growth, and dedication is often overlooked in favor of short-term gains. However, there are still individuals and coaches who exemplify the traditional values of long-term success, adopting a determined approach and valuing the development of all players, rather than just the prospects for college.
Shifting gears to girls’ volleyball, the Mira Costa High team recently displayed both talent and chemistry, securing first place at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii. Despite the absence of their star setter, Charlie Fuerbringer, who was competing with the USA girls’ U19 team, the Mustangs rallied to defeat the top-ranked team in the country, Cornerstone Christian of San Antonio, in the final.
Temple City’s Taylor Yu, a Stanford commit, made an impressive season debut with 35 kills in a victory over Flintridge Sacred Heart. Taft emerged victorious in the City Champions Showcase Championship, while Redondo Union claimed the Lakewood tournament championship.
In other sports news, Crenshaw and King/Drew participated in an eight-minute scrimmage during halftime at SoFi Stadium as part of the girls’ seven-on-seven flag football event held alongside the Rams-Raiders game.
Unfortunately, due to the effects of a tropical storm, the Coliseum League’s season opener games scheduled at Dymally and Washington Prep had to be rescheduled as the Los Angeles Unified School District canceled classes.
As the high school football season continues, fans can expect more thrilling matchups, breakout performances, and unexpected outcomes. The dedication and hard work of athletes and coaches will be on full display as they strive for success and pursue their athletic dreams.
