By Connor Schmitt
History often repeats itself in the Trinity League.
Last year, the Mater Dei football team started the season undefeated in five consecutive non-league games until league rivals St. John Bosco and JSerra blemished their perfect record at the start of league play in back to back weeks.
On Oct. 30, Mater Dei suffered their second loss of the 2015 season to JSerra, 35-28, following a late fourth quarter rally by the Lions.
Mater Dei’s first loss of the season? A 42-21 loss to St. John Bosco two weeks ago.
From the start, it looked like Mater Dei had the game in the bag. On just the third play of the game, JSerra quarterback Riley O’Brien threw his first pass for an interception to linebacker Faavae Favaae, who went untouched as he ran it back 32 yards for a touchdown.
The score was only 7-0, but it looked like the beginning of the end for JSerra. This was before their defensive intervened.
The Lions recorded six sacks on Mater Dei by the end of the night, halting quarterback JT Daniels from wreaking his usual havoc in the passing game and allowing their offensive to recuperate after a rough start.
JSerra running back Avery Williams had an exceptional night both running and catching the ball. He accumulated 138 yards total, with 64 rushing, 74 receiving and three touchdowns. His final catch of the night was a 44-yard touchdown to bring the Lions’ lead to 35-21 late in the fourth.
Despite the aggression of Mater Dei’s defense and the early interception by O’Brien, the Lions stuck to their usual routine of alternating both O’Brien and Matthew Robinson at the quarterback position.
This game was do-or-die for the Lions, who would have possibly been eliminated from playoff contention if they were to lose against the Monarchs. They now hang from a thread as they enter their final game of the regular season against Orange Lutheran on Nov. 6.
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