Mater Dei wins fourth California title in a breeze behind Stanford-bound Elijah Brown: Live update recap

Fourth-year starting quarterback finishes off career with 298 yards passing and four touchdowns to four different receivers in 35-0 win over Serra

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA — The four-year career of Elijah Brown ended on a high note by throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers in a 35-0 victory over Serra in the CIF Open Division championship game Saturday night at Saddleback College. 

Brown completed 17 of 22 passes for 298 yards as the Stanford-bound quarterback finished his illustrious career with a 42-2 record for the Monarchs (13-1). 

Serra coach Patrick Walsh said this week that Mater Dei's defense was the best he'd ever seen on film. He surely believed the same in person, as Serra mustered only 58 yards of offense on 39 plays. 

Brown completed touchdown passes to freshman Mark Bowman (16 yards), Marcus Harris (74 yards), Jonah Smith (12) and Michael Shannon (31). Jordon Davison also had an 8-yard touchdown run. 

(Photo gallery by Joe Bergman)

Photo: Joe Bergman

Photo by Joe Bergman

Mater Dei did commit likely a finals record with 16 penalties for 150 yards, which almost tripled Serra's total yards.  The Monarchs are no 4-0 in state title appearances while Serra dropped to 1-5. 

(See game highlights at top of the page by Myckena Guerrero)

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Kickoff set for 8 p.m. ...

FOURTH QUARTER

MATER DEI 35, SERRA 0 (11:50) — First play of quarter, Elijah Brown throws his fourth touchdown pass, a beauty off a flea flicker to Jack Ressler. Brown, a Stanford commit, has thrown his TDs to four different receivers. What a game, what a career for Brown. We are now going to running clock.

THIRD QUARTER

MATER DEI 28, SERRA 0 (7:06) — Jordon Davison 8-yard run on sweep left, dives to the pylon. Mater Dei takes advantage of turnover and goes 58 yards in seven plays. 

- Serra gives it right back. Mann fumbles and Tomu Topui recovers for Mater Dei. (10:10)

- Serra recovers an onside kick, Teddy Chung recovers. 

SECOND QUARTER

MATER DEI 21, SERRA 0 (1:14) — Jonah Smith 12-yard pass from Elijah Brown after a Shaun Scott blocked punt gives Monarchs a short field. Four plays, 43 yards. The air feels out of this one.  

Elijah Brown completed 8 of 13 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns in the first half for the Monarchs / Photo: Joe Bergman

- Blocked punt by Shaun Scott gives Mater Dei first down at Serra 42. Less than 2 minutes left in half. 

- Sack by Marley Alapati of Brown, turns the ball over to Serra at the Mater Dei 25. Serra sideline fired up. Any stop of this Mater Dei team is a victory for Padres. 

FIRST QUARTER

MATER DEI 14, SERRA 0 (1:21) — Marcus Harris 84-yard touchdown from Elijah Brown on 3rd-and-10. 

MATER DEI 7, SERRA 0 (4:46) — Mark Bowman 16-yard pass from Elijah Brown completes 8-play, 68-yard drive, takes 2:41. A roughing the punter penalty kept the drive alive. Bowman, by the way, is a freshman. 

Mark Bowman (19) celebrates his first-quarter touchdown.  / Photo: Joe Bergman

- On the game's first drive, Serra gets three first downs via three Mater Dei penalties. The Padres utilize some crazy formations and cadences to lead to the infractions. The Padres punt away. Mater Dei takes over on its first drive at its own 32. 

Mater Dei 35, Serra 0 box score / Courtesy CIF

PREGAME READING

For the second time in three years, the Mater Dei Monarchs face the Serra Padres for the biggest title in California high school football at Saddleback College. The Padres are hoping for a much different finish.

In 2021, Mater Dei, playing emotionally for then coach Bruce Rollinson, thinking it might be his last game, prevailed 44-7. It turned out it wasn't his last contest — he coached all of 2022 before retiring — but the Monarchs have not stopped dominating. 

Led by four-year starting quarterback, Stanford-bound Elijah Brown, and up to 40 other standouts with Division I offers, Mater Dei (12-1) is again ranked among the top five teams in the nation.

Serra (12-0), led by a couple of dozen seniors — one of the best classes the Central Coast Section has ever seen — is hoping to make up the gap led by a savvy, experienced and talented defense. 

A proud program that has produced two of the NFL's greatest players —‚ Tom Brady and Lynn Swann — is a giant underdog but hopes to represent. This is the last game in California for 2023. 

Players to watch: Serra — QB Maealuiaki Smith (6-4, 200, Oklahoma State commit), S Joseph Bey (6-1, 195, San Jose State commit), LB-RB Jabari Mann (6-0, Fact check: The teams met in the 2021 Open Division title game and Mater Dei prevailed, 44-7. … McManus is a first-year head coach and longtime DBs coach. … Walsh is in his 22nd season and propelled Padres over his alma mater De La Salle as prééminent NorCal program. This is the third straight season Serra has represented NorCal in the Open game. … According to 247Sports, Mater Dei boasts 10 of the state’s top 100 senior recruits and six of the top 15, and seven of the top 80 junior recruits, including No. 2 Nasir Wyatt, an edge rusher, and No. 6 Daryus Dixson, a cornerback. Since 2016, Serra is 84-17, Mater Dei is 95-5.210, San Jose State), LB-RB Danny Niu (6-0, 6-1, 215, San Diego State), TE Cole Harrison (6-5, 215), LB Marley Alapati (6-0, 205), WR-DB Kyan Loud (6-2, 180, Montana commit), RB-CB Jaden Green (WCAL, Utility POY), DE Colin Tahitua (WCAL DL POY).

Players to watch: Mater Dei — QB Elijah Brown (Stanford commit, 8,979 career passing yards, 111 TDs), RB Nate Frazier (5-11, 208, Georgia commit), RB Jordon Davison (5-11, 203, Jr., 50 college offers), DL Aydin Breland (6-5, 290, 5-star, top recruit California, Oregon commit), OT Brandon Baker (6-5, 285, No. 3 California recruit, Texas), CB Zabien Brown (6-0, 180, No. 4 California recruit, Alabama), OL DeAndre Carter (6-4, 340, No. 11 California recruit, Auburn).

Fact check: The teams met in the 2021 Open Division title game and Mater Dei prevailed, 44-7. … McManus is a first-year head coach and longtime DBs coach. … Walsh is in his 22nd season and propelled Padres over his alma mater De La Salle as prééminent NorCal program. This is the third straight season Serra has represented NorCal in the Open game. … According to 247Sports, Mater Dei boasts 10 of the state’s top 100 senior recruits and six of the top 15, and seven of the top 80 junior recruits, including No. 2 Nasir Wyatt, an edge rusher, and No. 6 Daryus Dixson, a cornerback. Since 2016, Serra is 84-17, Mater Dei is 95-5.

Skinny: The senior class of Serra is talented, experienced and extremely smart. The Padres returned nine starters from last season on defense, which is littered with sons of coaches. The team’s GPA is well over 3.0, according to Walsh. But while Serra is sending football players to San Jose State, San Diego State and Montana, Mater Dei’s roster is filled with players going to Power 5 conferences. Even reserves. Serra’s only hope rests on its defense forcing multiple turnovers. With 4-year starter and Stanford-bound Elijah Brown at QB, a long shot. Then again,experience, emotion and spirit matter. The Padres match the Monarchs in those categories. Both teams are expertly coached.

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