The Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders defeated the visiting Mar Vista Mariners, 48-7, last Friday to secure this year’s Metro-South Bay League championship title. The teams could rematch in the upcoming Division IV playoffs.
The Crusaders (9-1) enter post-season play as the No. 1 seed while the Mariners (7-3) are seeded fourth. Both teams received first-round byes and will host quarterfinal games on Nov. 20.
Meter Dei Catholic will host Friday’s first-round winner between eighth-seeded El Cajon Valley (5-5) and ninth-seeded Kearny (5-5); Mar Vista will host the winner between fifth-seeded Southwest El Centro (8-2) or 12th-seeded Orange Glen (4-6).
Should both teams win those games, a potential rematch for something much larger could be on tap, and would assure that one Metro Conference team advances to the championship game Dec. 4 at Southwestern College.
Chris Jones (four-of-seven, 105 passing yards) threw a pair of touchdown passes to Quentin Frazier (two catches, 54 yards) while also rushing for a score in the win over Mar Vista. Elias Eribez (one carry, 37 yards) and C.J. Verdell (five carries, 116 yards) also scored rushing touchdowns while Jayden Emberton-Gaines scored on a 23-yard fumble return.
Verdell scored on a 99-yard run after the Mater Dei Catholic defense forced a turnover on downs at the one-yard line.
Alex Golembiewski kicked all six PAT conversions while tacking on field goals of 25 and 45 yards. The hosts built an imposing 45-0 lead in the game.
Jones has passed for 1,348 yards with 14 touchdowns against zero interceptions for a 136.1 quarterback rating; Verdell has rushed for 1,357 yards and scored 21 total touchdowns (18 rushing, two receiving and one on a kick-off return). Golembiewski has 66 kicking points to his credit this season, including six field goals.
Mar Vista’s lone touchdown in the regular season finale came on a seven-yard run by Noah Berry in the third quarter.
“Ending on a two game skid isn’t ideal, but we are fortunate enough that we were still able to secure a No. 4 seed and first-round bye so that we could heal up,” MVHS head coach Tyler Arciaga noted. “Two of our more explosive players were out for the last part of the Hilltop game and all of the Mater Dei Catholic game, so it’s been good to heal up. It also gives our seniors one more chance to play in front of their community. We have a lot to improve on to get ready for the upcoming game, so this bye week couldn’t come at a better time.”
Mater Dei Catholic is taking aim on a return trip to the division championship game after finishing runner-up to the Bishop’s Knights with an overtime loss last season. The league banner is thus one of two banners the team has on its check list this season.
It should be noted a forfeit loss to El Capitan in the second game of the season is the only thing separating the Crusaders from an undefeated season.
