While top-ranked Mater Dei and St. John Bosco continued their winning ways last weekend, several Catholic school football teams fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.
The opening of the Mission League season Sept. 22 saw Loyola defeat Notre Dame 28-21 at Sherman Oaks, denying Knights’ coach Kevin Rooney his 300th career win. Loyola and Notre Dame now each stand 4-1 on the season, along with Chaminade which won its league opener over Crespi, 39-7. Serra evened its overall mark at 2-2 with a league win over Alemany, 38-20.
Less surprising were the wins by national No. 1 Mater Dei, 52-14 over St. Mary’s of Stockton at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and by St. John Bosco, 21-17 in the nation’s capital against St. John Prep of Washington, D.C. Mater Dei junior quarterback J.T. Daniels threw five touchdown passes in the Monarchs’ fifth straight double-digit win, while the Braves (4-1) rallied with two late TD drives led by sophomore quarterback D.J. Ulagalelei.
Among St. John Bosco’s fellow Trinity League competitors, J.Serra (32-10 over Los Alamitos) and Servite (49-14 over Garfield) each reached 5-0. But Santa Margarita (4-1) suffered its first loss, 28-23 to Mission Viejo. Trinity League teams (all in Division of the CIF Southern Section) are idle this week before opening league play Oct. 6.
Top-ranked Paraclete (Division 5) and Bishop Diego (Division 6) continued their winning ways, as the Spirits overwhelmed Tehachapi 63-7 while the unbeaten Cardinals upended Santa Fe Christian, 35-20. Previously unbeaten Cantwell-Sacred Heart lost its first game, 36-16 to Montebello.
Also last week: St. Francis 49, Saugus 20; Workman 40, Don Bosco Tech 34; Arrowhead Christian 28, St. Bernard 25; St. Genevieve 35, Arleta 7; Damien 49, Monrovia 7; Notre Dame Prep 48, La Salle 17; Gahr 34, St. Anthony 7; Warren 29, St. Paul 28; Mary Star 28, Bishop Montgomery 27; Santa Clara 40, Jordan 16; Hart 44, St. Bonaventure 34; South Gate 57, Salesian 20; Arroyo Grande 38, St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 20; Crean Lutheran 23, St. Pius X-St. Matthias 20; Flintridge Prep 58, Bellarmine-Jefferson 0; Villanova Prep 55, Bloomington Christian 34.
This week’s games
With teams reaching or nearing the midway point of the season, a lighter schedule is in store this week, although Mission League play continues beginning Sept. 28 with Serra at Chaminade, followed on Sept. 29 with Bishop Amat at Loyola and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) at Alemany.
Other games this week include:
Sept. 29: Cantwell-Sacred Heart at St. Bernard; Paraclete at St. Bonaventure; Carpinteria at Bishop Diego; Valley Christian (Cerritos) at St. Anthony; Verbum Dei at Don Bosco Tech; Bishop Montgomery at St. Genevieve; Fairmont Prep at Santa Clara; Cathedral at Newport Harbor; San Luis Obispo at St. Joseph (Santa Maria); St. Margaret’s Episcopal at St. Pius-St. Matthias; St. Monica vs. Malibu; St. Francis at Buena Park; Bellarmine-Jefferson at Crossroads Christian.
