High School

Mater Dei beats De La Salle for California high school football Open Division championship: Live updates recap

The Monarchs defeat the Spartans 37-15 in the CIF Open Division state final for their fifth state title and second in a row

JD Humburg, SBLive Sports

Jordon Davison and Mater Dei brushed aside De La Salle in the 2024 CIF Open Division state championship game. The Monarchs won, 37-15.
Jordon Davison and Mater Dei brushed aside De La Salle in the 2024 CIF Open Division state championship game. The Monarchs won, 37-15. / Photo by David Dennis

BOX SCORE

The Mater Dei Monarchs (12-0) of Santa Ana face the De La Salle Spartans (12-0) of Concord in the California (CIF) high school football State Open Division championship game Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

CIF championship game previews, storylines

Mater Dei is No. 1 in High School on SI’s national high school football rankings. De La Salle checks in at No. 18.

The Monarchs have a whopping 29 players with Division I college offers, and the CalPrep.com computer system has the team as a 41-point favorite in this matchup, although that number seems a bit extreme to SBLive’s Mitch Stephens, who is projecting a much closer game.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Pacific time, and High School on SI will have live updates from the game right here.

You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

Refresh this page for live updates after the game starts.

Mater Dei vs. De La Salle live updates

First quarter

Mater Dei wins the toss and elects to receive, and away we go!

First play: Dash Beierly 25 yards to Marcus Harris. Two plays later, he hits Harris for another big gain. Mark Bowman makes a nice catch on the sideline to get Mater Dei to the 5-yard line. Jordon Davison punches it in from 2 yards for his 18th rushing touchdown of the season. That seemed too easy for the Monarchs. 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:03. Dominic Zante PAT good. Mater Dei 7, De La Salle 0, 8:57 1st quarter.

Marcus Harris
Mater Dei senior Marcus Harris goes up for a first-quarter catch in the 2024 CIF Open Division state championship game against De La Salle. / Photo by David Dennis

It's a very quick 3-and-out for the De La Salle offense. Oregon-bound linebacker Nasir Wyatt with an emphatic tackle for Mater Dei. One early highlight for De La Salle: a 70-yard punt by Justin Uribarri.

Mater Dei's second drive starts with a 20-yard run by Jordon Davison. On 3rd-and-20, Dash Beierly scrambles for 17 yards. So, Monarchs go for it on 4th-and-3, but this time, Beierly is stopped for no gain. De La Salle takes over at midfield.

Mater Dei defense forces another 3-and-out for De La Salle.

One play: Dash Beierly 90 yards to Gavin Honore. Three drives for Mater Dei, two touchdowns. Dominic Zante PAT good. Mater Dei 14, De La Salle 0, 3:39 1st quarter.

Three possessions for De La Salle, three 3-and-outs. Monarchs take over for their fourth possession of the first quarter.

Mater Dei didn't punt in last year's championship game and might not this year, either! Monarchs go for it on 4th-and-2 at midfield. Kennie Leggett rips off a 22-yard run.

End of first quarter, Mater Dei leads 14-0. In terms of yardage, Mater Dei leads 232-3!

Second quarter

Mater Dei goes for it on fourth down again — this time 4th-and-11. Incomplete pass. De La Salle takes over.

De La Salle gets its first first down of the game ... on a Mater Dei penalty. De La Salle gets its second first down of the game ... on a Mater Dei penalty. But then ... Mater Dei junior linebacker Shaun Scott gets an interception. Monarchs ball at their 36-yard line.

What a catch by Mater Dei junior Kayden Dixon-Wyatt — a 32-yard reception to the 4-yard line. On 4th-and-goal from the 2, Dash Beierly is stopped short of the goal line. De La Salle turns over Mater Dei on downs for the third time. 3:38 left in the half.

SAFETY! High snap. De La Salle quarterback Toa Faavae goes back and gets the ball, but he's tackled in the end zone. Mater Dei 16, De La Salle 0, 2:09 2nd quarter.

Incredible diving catch by Mater Dei junior receiver Koen Parnell. Two plays later, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt with a 22-yard touchdown reception. Dominic Zante PAT good. Mater Dei 23, De La Salle 0, 0:48 2nd quarter.

End of second quarter, Mater Dei leads 23-0. De La Salle has 22 yards on 21 plays.

Mater Dei Monarchs
The Mater Dei defense held De La Salle to 22 yards on 21 plays in the first half of the 2024 CIF Open Division state championship game. / Photo by David Dennis

Third quarter

De La Salle receives the second-half kickoff, and Spartans pick up two quick first downs on runs by senior running back Derrick Blanche. On 2nd-and-goal from the 1, Toa Faavae sneaks in for a De La Salle touchdown. Justin Uribarri PAT good. Mater Dei 23, De La Salle 7, 7:17 3rd quarter.

De La Salle sacks Dash Beierly for the third time this game. Spartans force a 3-and-out, and they'll get the ball at midfield with a chance to dig further into Mater Dei's lead. That was the first time Mater Dei punted in the past two championship games.

De La Salle quarterback Toa Faavae with a 41-yard touchdown run! It's his second rushing TD of the quarter. Spartans go for 2. Derrick Blanche is in! What a turnaround this half for the Spartans. It's a one-score game. Mater Dei 23, De La Salle 15, 4:20 3rd quarter.

End of third quarter, Mater Dei leads 23-15.

Fourth quarter

Oregon-bound senior Jordon Davison with his second touchdown of the game for Mater Dei, this one a 15-yard run. Dominic Zante PAT good. Mater Dei 30, De La Salle 15, 8:19 4th quarter.

De La Salle goes for it on 4th-and-15. Incomplete. With 6:14 left, Mater Dei is in great shape.

Dash Beierly with a 31-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Mark Bowman. It's Beierly's third TD pass of the game. Dominic Zante PAT good. Mater Dei 37, De La Salle 15, 5:11 4th quarter.

Mater Dei senior linebacker Abduall Sanders with an interception, and that should just about do it. Mater Dei is 3:39 from another state title.

Next play, though, is a Mater Dei fumble, recovered by De La Salle senior defensive end DJ Asiasi.

Another interception by Mater Dei! It's by freshman defensive back Ace Leutele in the end zone. 2:05 to play.

Final: Mater Dei 37, De La Salle 15. It's the Monarchs' fifth state title and second in a row.

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JD Humburg, SBLive Sports
JD HUMBURG, SBLIVE SPORTS

JD Humburg is a Managing Editor for SBLive Sports.

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