While Mater Dei and St. John Bosco continued their impressive (and overwhelming) winning ways, last weekend’s high school football games included several down-to-the-wire, and beyond, thrillers.

Those results included a 28-21 overtime win by St. Francis over Damien, a 26-20 double-overtime win by Serra (Gardena) over Calabasas, and a 31-25 overtime win by Cantwell Sacred Heart over Whittier Christian. La Salle avoided overtime and squeaked past Santa Paula 38-35. 

Mater Dei, meanwhile, proved a most unwelcome guest in Peoria, Arizona, with a 71-21 clobbering of Centennial. St. John Bosco — ranked behind Mater Dei in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 poll — was equally unappreciative (during the game, at least) with a 49-7 stomping of Liberty in Las Vegas. 

This week comes a highly-anticipated showdown between Mater Dei (ranked No. 1 by Maxpreps’ Xcellent 25 writers’ poll) and St. Frances Academy of Baltimore (No. 1 in Maxpreps’ Freeman computer poll). The Sept. 14 (7 p.m.) game at St. John Bosco’s Parish Family Stadium in Bellflower comes a day after the Braves host Our Lady of Good Counsel from Olney, Maryland, in a 7 p.m. clash.

The weekend’s results:

September 6: Mater Dei 71, Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) 21; St. John Bosco 49 Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 7; Cherry Creek (Colorado) 35, Santa Margarita 10; J.Serra 38, Bishop Amat 14; Cathedral 40, Carson 21; Alemany 34, Dorsey 8; St. Augustine (San Diego) 42, Loyola 5; Chaminade 41, Birmingham 14; Serra (Gardena) 26, Calabasas 20 (2 overtimes); St. Francis 28, Damien 21 (overtime); Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 42, Moorpark 0; Paraclete 20, Legacy (North Las Vegas) 16; Narbonne 56, St. Paul 19; Crespi 54, Harvard-Westlake 0; Palm Springs 35, St. Anthony 14; St. Pius X-St. Matthias 36, Bishop Montgomery 7; La Salle 38, Santa Paula 35; St. Genevieve 41, Salesian 0; Maranatha 34, Verbum Dei 0; Cantwell Sacred Heart 31, Whittier Christian 25 (overtime); St. Monica (Santa Monica) 52, Village Christian 14; St. Bonaventure 22, Highland 14; Lompoc 17, Bishop Diego 7; Westchester 28, St. Bernard 10; Southlands Christian 8, Don Bosco Tech 0.

September 7: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 42, Servite 21; Mary Star of the Sea 36, Fairmont Prep 7.

Eight-Man Football: St. Michael’s Prep 36, St. Joseph Academy 14; Santa Clara 27, Beacon Hill 12; Trona 78, Villanova 3. 

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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