Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco’s Historic Feud Since 2016

High School Football - Mater Dei CA vs St John Bosco CA

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Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) vs. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) has become the best rivalry in high school football since 2016. Both programs have finished ranked in the top 10 nationally in each of the last eight years excluding the pandemic-impacted 2020 season.

They have combined for four MaxPreps National Championships with Mater Dei going wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country in 2017 and 2021. St. John Bosco finished No. 1 in 2019 and 2022.

Friday’s matchup at the Santa Ana Bowl will be the 15th meeting since 2016 with Mater Dei holding a 9-5 edge. Those five defeats are the only losses the Monarchs have suffered over the last eight-plus years. They are 94-0 against everyone else.

The success of the programs has been fueled by an assembly line of top-notch individual talent. 

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Bryce Young, Elias Ricks, Nikko Remigio and Quentin Lake have all contributed to Mater Dei’s dominance during that span and are now in the NFL.

Trent McDuffie, Wyatt Davis, George Holani, Jaiden Woodbey, Chris Steele and Terrell Bynum of St. John Bosco have all spent time on NFL rosters.

The league rivals have combined to win seven Open Division state titles since 2016. The Monarchs won in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023. The Braves did it in 2016, 2019 and 2022.

This will be the 15th meeting between No. 1 and No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25 since 2000 and the sixth time featuring Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco with the latter holding a 3-2 edge.


Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco since 2016

Oct. 21, 2016

  • No. 4 Mater Dei 26
  • No. 7 St. John Bosco 21

The Monarchs ended the Braves’ six-game win streak against them after erasing a 21-12 fourth quarter deficit. It was Mater Dei’s first win over St. John Bosco since 2010 and snapped a 23-game Trinity League win streak. J.T. Daniels connected with Osiris St. Brown for a 15-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-19 with 8:47 left. After a Jalen Cole interception, Shakobe Harper scampered in for a one-yard score to give the Monarchs a 26-21 lead with 7:01 remaining. Amon-Ra St. Brown helped give Mater Dei some momentum with a key 75-yard punt return touchdown in the third quarter.

Dec. 3, 2016

  • No. 8 St. John Bosco 42
  • No. 3 Mater Dei 28

St. John Bosco got its revenge in the Southern Section Division 1 championship at Angel Stadium. They used a strong rushing attack as Re-al Mitchell, Terrance Beasley and Demetrious Flowers all eclipsed the century mark. They combined for 405 yards and five scores. The defense forced three interceptions from J.T. Daniels, who had just three interceptions all season leading up to that game. Amon-Ra St. Brown had six receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Oct. 13, 2017

  • No. 1 Mater Dei 31
  • No. 5 St. John Bosco 21

Mater Dei went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country in 2017 and this was the closest game it was in all season. J.T. Daniels completed 18 of 24 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He added eight carries for 97 yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown posted eight catches for 206 yards and two scores. This was D.J. Uiagalelei’s first career start and he finished with 257 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Dec. 2, 2017

  • No. 1 Mater Dei 49
  • No. 5 St. John Bosco 24

The playoff rematch came in the Southern Section Division 1 championship and the Monarchs handed the Braves their largest loss since 2009. J.T. Daniels completed 19 of 26 passes for 299 yards and five touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 150 yards and a score. Bru McCoy added four grabs for 66 yards and three touchdowns. The win clinched the Monarchs’ first appearance in a CIF state championship game. They beat De La Salle (Concord)  52-21 to claim the Open Division state title.

Oct. 13, 2018

  • No. 1 St. John Bosco 41
  • No. 2 Mater Dei 18

This was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between the two and the Braves dominated from start to finish. D.J. Uiagalelei completed 15 of 21 passes for 278 yards and five touchdowns. Jake Bailey was his favorite target hauling in six catches for 161 yards and three scores. George Holani had a big night rushing for 118 yards and one score on 12 carries to go with a 27-yard touchdown reception. This was the first start for Bryce Young against the Braves and he threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns.

Nov. 23, 2018

  • No. 3 Mater Dei 17
  • No. 1 St. John Bosco 13

The Monarchs got revenge in the Southern Section Division 1 championship and had the perfect game plan against D.J. Uiagalelei and an explosive offense. They held Uiagalelei to 7 of 19 passing for 110 yards and one touchdown. Raesjon Davis and Elias Ricks both had an interception. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime and Bryce Young gave the Monarchs a 14-7 lead with 1:22 left in the third quarter after connecting with Bru McCoy for a 20-yard touchdown.

Chris Steele blocked a field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter and Trent McDuffie scooped it up and returned it for a 74-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-13, but the Braves missed the PAT. The Monarchs added a late field goal and dominated the time of possession holding the ball for over 31 minutes.

Oct. 25, 2019

  • No. 1 Mater Dei 38
  • No. 2 St. John Bosco 24

Bryce Young put together a phenomenal senior season and this was one of his signature performances. He finished with 256 yards passing and three touchdowns to go with 78 yards rushing and two more scores. Kody Epps was his favorite target finishing with 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns. D.J. Uiagalelei was the only quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards against Mater Dei with 320 and two scores. Logan Loya and Jode McDuffie both had over 100 yards receiving. Jaylin Davies ended the Braves’ comeback attempt with a fourth quarter interception to seal the victory.

Nov. 30, 2019

  • No. 2 St. John Bosco 39
  • No. 1 Mater Dei 34

This one was legendary. The Monarchs jumped out to a 28-5 lead in the first half but the Braves got momentum right before halftime when D.J. Uiagalelei connected with Kris Hutson for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-12. That led to 34 unanswered points for St. John Bosco as it took a 39-28 lead with 8:52 left. Bryce Young found Kyron Ware-Hudson for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 39-34 with five minutes remaining.

Mater Dei had two more drives to take the lead but St. John Bosco’s defense held strong. Ma’a Gaoteote forced a fumble on Young and on the Monarchs’ last hope, Hutson intercepted Young’s Hail Mary attempt on the final play. Uiagalelei threw for 446 yards and five touchdowns. Young was stellar as well throwing for 405 yards and five touchdowns but the Bosco defense forced three interceptions.

April 17, 2021

  • Mater Dei 34
  • St. John Bosco 17

Neither team was ranked nationally after the CIF moved the season because of COVID. Elijah Brown made his first start against St. John Bosco as a freshman throwing for 203 yards and four touchdowns. Kyron Ware-Hudson led the Monarchs with 71 yards and a touchdown. C.J. Williams had three grabs for 55 yards and two scores. Matayo Uialgalelei had Bosco’s only touchdown reception and Kyngtstonn Viliamu-Asa had 1.5 sacks as a freshman but tore his ACL and missed his sophomore season.

Oct. 1, 2021

  • No. 1 Mater Dei 42
  • No. 3 St. John Bosco 21

Elijah Brown completed 13 of 18 passes for 263 yards and five touchdowns. Cooper Barkate had four receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns while C.J. Williams added four catches for 70 yards and two scores. The game went back and forth in the first half as they went into halftime tied at 21. Mater Dei outscored the Braves 21-0 in the second half and improved to 4-0 on the season.

They went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25, beating Servite (Anaheim) 28-7 in the Southern Section Division 1 championship and Serra (San Mateo) 44-7 in the Open Division state championship. This was the first year Mater Dei and St. John Bosco did not play in the section title game since 2015.

Oct. 7, 2022

  • No. 2 Mater Dei 17
  • No. 1 St. John Bosco 7

Both defenses played great as the only points in the first half came on a touchdown run from Elijah Brown early in the second quarter. St. John Bosco’s starting quarterback Pierce Clarkson took a huge hit in the first half and did not play in the second half because of concussion protocol. Cameron Jones tied the game with a six-yard touchdown run on fourth down with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Monarchs added a field goal early in the fourth quarter to take a 10-7 lead. Jordon Davison iced the game with a 38-yard touchdown run in the final minute to give the Monarchs their third straight win over the Braves.

Nov. 25, 2022

  • No. 2 St. John Bosco 24
  • No. 1 Mater Dei 22

The second No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between the two during the 2022 season and this time the Braves turned the tables. They handed Elijah Brown his first high school loss at the Rose Bowl in the Southern Section Division 1 championship. The Braves scored on their opening drive of the second half after Pierce Clarkson connected with Matayo Uiagalelei for a 14-7 lead. After the Monarchs cut the deficit to 14-13, St. John Bosco scored 10 unanswered points thanks to a 72-yard touchdown pass from Clarkson to DeAndre Moore and a forced turnover on the ensuing kickoff that turned into a field goal.

The Monarchs cut the deficit to 24-22 after a Jordon Davison touchdown run with just under three minutes left but St. John Bosco stuffed Mater Dei’s two-point attempt to hold on to the lead. Clarkson found Uiagalelei for a third down conversion to ice the game as this win led the Braves to their second MaxPreps National Championship. They snapped Mater Dei’s 29-game win streak and sent Bruce Rollinson out with a loss in his last game as head coach. He retired with a 339-86-2 record.

Oct. 13, 2023

  • No. 9 St. John Bosco 28
  • No. 1 Mater Dei 0

This was one of the more shocking results between the two Trinity League powers. The Braves dropped to No. 9 in the MaxPreps Top 25 after a 30-23 loss at Kahuku (Hawaii) earlier in the season. The Monarchs were the preseason No. 1 choice and won every contest by at least 13 points through their first seven games. St. John Bosco dominated on defense and held Mater Dei to under 200 total yards. Elijah Brown completed 10 of 18 passes for 81 yards. Cameron Jones rushed for 142 yards and one score to go with a 17-yard touchdown reception. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa finished with a game-high 11 tackles.

Nov. 24, 2023

  • No. 5 Mater Dei 35
  • No. 3 St. John Bosco 7

Mater Dei got its revenge in the Southern Section Division 1 championship at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Abduall Sanders put the Monarchs on the board first with a 52-yard pick-six. Jordon Davison added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give Mater Dei a 14-0 halftime lead. Elijah Brown connected with Kayden Dixon-Wyatt to expand the lead to 21-0 on a 44-yard score with about four minutes left in the third quarter.

The Braves lone touchdown came on a one-handed touchdown grab from Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa to cut the deficit to 21-7. Mater Dei responded with a Tomu Topui touchdown and a Zabien Brown pick-six to win its fourth CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship since 2017. The Monarchs held the Braves to 14 yards rushing and 191 total yards.

  1. Athletic Highlights

    Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais Joins 2026 Polynesian Bowl Roster

    2026 Englewood Cherry Creek DL offer Tufanua Umu-Cais

    2026 Englewood Cherry Creek DL offer Tufanua Umu-Cais

    Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek defensive lineman Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais has received an invitation to participate in the 2026 Polynesian Bowl, as announced on Tuesday.

    The standout player from Colorado expressed his excitement about this honor.

    “Being selected to the Polynesian Bowl is a huge honor,” stated Umu-Cais. “It’s a recognition of all the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices I’ve made, and it means even more knowing how much pride and history are connected to the game. I have seen many players in the Poly Bowl and even players that are in the league now. It is truly special to be a part of something like that.”

    Umu-Cais is eager to immerse himself in the experience in Hawaii.

    “I’m extremely excited,” he said. “The Polynesian culture is so rich, full of pride, family, and tradition. I’m looking forward to learning more, meeting new people, and embracing everything the experience has to offer. I am extremely excited to immerse myself in the Poly community because it’s my culture. I can’t wait to really put on for my family as well as my community.”

    This will mark his first visit to the Aloha State.

    “I haven’t been to Hawaii yet, so this will be my first time,” Umu-Cais shared. “I’m really looking forward to itโ€”the beauty, the culture, and the experience of a lifetime.”

    Additionally, Umu-Cais is enthusiastic about the opportunity to compete alongside some of the nationโ€™s top talents.

    “I do not know the roster yet and what players are going to be attending, but I look forward to meeting them and also competing,” he noted.

    The roster for the 2026 Polynesian Bowl includes early invitees such as Immanuel Iheanacho, Faizon Brandon, DJ Jacobs, Myson Johnson-Cook, Brandon Arrington, Chris Henry Jr., Kendre Harrison, Cederian Morgan, Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, Xavier Griffin, Kelsey Adams, Jamier Brown, George Toia, and Jett Washington.

    The 2027 Polynesian Bowl will feature early invites including Elijah Haven, Trent Seaborn, and Marcus Fakatou.

    Launched in 2017, the Polynesian Bowl saw its first Offensive MVP awarded to former Stanford all-purpose back Connor Wedington, while Buffalo Bills defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa earned the Defensive MVP. The following year, Kyler Gordon from the Chicago Bears and Tanner McKee from the Philadelphia Eagles were named Co-MVPs.

    The 2019 contest awarded co-MVP honors to Daniel Heimuli, a linebacker from Arizona, and Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams. In 2020, Sol-Jay Maiava, the quarterback from BYU, and Meki Pei from Hawaii won co-MVP awards.

    The 2021 edition saw Travis Hunter from Colorado take home the offensive MVP title, while Jaishawn Barham of Michigan earned defensive MVP honors. In 2023, Nico Iamaleava, a quarterback from Tennessee, was named offensive MVP, and linebacker Andrew Harris garnered defensive MVP accolades.

    The 2024 game awarded offensive MVP to Mike Matthews from Tennessee and defensive MVP to David Stone of Oklahoma. Lastly, the 2025 contest featured co-MVPs on offense in Husan Longstreet from USC and Dakorien Moore from Oregon, while 2026 defensive lineman Deuce Geralds earned the defensive MVP honor.

    The tenth Polynesian Bowl is scheduled for January 16, 2026, in Honolulu and will be broadcasted by NFL Network.

    For more details on the 2026 Polynesian Bowl roster, go here.

    The eleventh Polynesian Bowl is slated for January 22, 2027, in Honolulu and will also be aired by NFL Network.

    For insights on the 2027 Polynesian Bowl roster, go here.

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  2. Athletic Highlights

    Creighton Secures Former MEAC Player of the Year Blake Harper

    DMV Hoop Session Interviews Suburban All Star Blake Harper

    DMV Hoop Session Interviews Suburban All Star Blake Harper

    Blake Harper, a standout freshman basketball player from Howard University, confirmed his transfer to Creighton University on Sunday through social media.

    Harper, who garnered both the MEAC Player and Rookie of the Year honors, shared his decision on Instagram @_bharp.

    โ€œyou canโ€™t say i ainโ€™t earn it??โ€ he wrote. โ€œRDJโ€

    A Washington, D.C. native who previously played at Gonzaga College High School, Harper entered the transfer portal on March 24 and ultimately chose Creighton, turning down offers from LSU and Ohio State. Standing 6-foot-8, he also had the choice to return to Howard.

    Harper is set to join a Creighton team coached by Greg McDermott, who led the Bluejays to an impressive 25-11 overall record, including a 15-5 performance in the Big East Conference during the 2024-25 season. The Bluejays secured an NCAA Tournament spot and concluded the season ranked 24th in the USA Today Coaches poll.

    Throughout the 2024-25 season, Harper made an impact at Howard, starting in all 32 games and averaging 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, contributing to the Bison’s 12-20 record, which included a 7-7 performance in the MEAC.

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  3. Athletic Highlights

    Which Teams Are Leading Michigan High School Baseball This Week?

    Bay City Western baseball ready for state semifinals

    Bay City Western baseball ready for state semifinals

    The Michigan high school baseball season has kicked off, and we’re here to deliver weekly rankings of the top teams across the state during the spring and summer months.

    Check out this weekโ€™s standout teams in the Mitten region.

    Michigan High School Baseball Rankings: Apr. 29

    1. Bay City Western (12-1)

    Bay City Western triumphed over Flint Powers Catholic 9-0 last Thursday but faced a setback with a 4-1 loss against Midland on Monday. The Warriors are gearing up for their next games against Lapeer on May 1 and Grand Blanc on May 5.

    2. De La Salle (12-2)

    The Pilots swept Auburn Hills Avondale on Saturday, winning both games 15-0, with game one ending after four innings and game two after three. De La Salle’s next challenge comes in the form of a doubleheader against Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice on April 30.

    3. Northville (14-1)

    The Mustangs notched wins against Hartland and two over Utica last week, followed by a victory against Howell on Monday. Northville is poised for a rematch against Howell on April 30.

    4. Dakota (11-4)

    After a heavy 10-0 loss to Rochester Adams last weekend, the Cougars bounced back with decisive wins against Sterling Heights Stevenson, claiming victories of 10-0 on Monday and 14-2 on Tuesday. Dakota is slated to face Stevenson two more times to wrap up their four-game series.

    5. Birmingham Brother Rice (11-6)

    The Warriors pulled off a sweep against Detroit Edison last week (2-0) and secured a 10-6 victory over Hartland on Friday. Up next, Brother Rice will face rival De La Salle for a doubleheader on April 30.

    6. Grosse Pointe South (18-2)

    With a win over Detroit Edison on Saturday, the Blue Devils set a new school record with their 15th consecutive victory. Although they stumbled against Anchor Bat on Monday, they have a chance for revenge on April 30 and May 1.

    7. Saline (15-1)

    The Hornets swept Chelsea in two games on Saturday and achieved a similar result against Ann Arbor Huron on Monday. With a five-game winning streak, Saline is stepping into the final match of their three-game series against Ann Arbor Huron on April 30.

    8. Orchard Lake St. Maryโ€™s (10-8)

    OLSM traveled to Ohio over spring break, where they faced three games: an 8-7 defeat against Anthony Wayne, a 3-2 loss to Defiance on Saturday, and an 8-3 loss to Perrysburg later that day. The Eaglets are set to resume their Catholic League schedule on April 30 with a doubleheader against U of D Jesuit.

    9. Romeo (16-2)

    The Bulldogs are on an impressive seven-game winning streak, recently sweeping Stoney Creek on Saturday. Theyโ€™ll look to maintain their momentum with a visit to Utica Ford next on May 1.

    10. Sterling Heights Stevenson (12-2)

    Stevenson is riding a three-game winning streak after defeating Anchor Bay twice on Saturday and mercying Dakota on Monday. The Titans will meet Dakota again on April 30 and May 1 before a brief pause, then face Utica Ford on May 5.

    11. Hudsonville (12-2)

    The Eagles wrapped up last week with a strong 5-1 record, including victories against Jenison and Rockford. Hudsonville is set to take on Rockford again on May 1 before hosting a doubleheader against Maple Valley the following day.

    12. Jenison (8-2)

    The Wildcats dominated Muskegon with a 15-0 win but narrowly lost to Hudsonville 9-8 last week. They split a doubleheader against Caledonia on Tuesday (W, 10-0; L, 3-2), with a rubber match scheduled for May 1.

    13. New Boston Huron (16-0)

    The Chiefs kept their unbeaten record intact last week with wins over Allen Park and Milan. They are set to play Flat Rock next on April 30 and have a matchup with Dearborn Divine Child on May 2.

    14. Detroit Catholic Central (10-6)

    The Shamrocks are currently on a four-game winning streak, most recently sweeping Portage Central on Tuesday. Up next, Detroit Catholic Central will face St. Francis de Sales in a doubleheader on April 30.

    15. West Bloomfield (8-3)

    The Lakers split a doubleheader with Rochester last week and followed that up with back-to-back wins against Groves, including an 8-1 victory on Tuesday. West Bloomfield will meet Groves once more on May 1 before taking on Stoney Creek on May 3.

    16. Dexter (13-6)

    The Dreadnaughts have struggled recently, dropping four of their last six games, including both matches in a doubleheader against Ann Arbor Skyline on Monday. They have another opportunity against Skyline on April 30 before heading to Adrian on May 3.

    17. Woodhaven (15-5)

    The Warriors have secured consecutive victories after experiencing two losses in a row, with their latest triumph coming against Dearborn Edsel Ford, winning 2-1 in a dramatic nine-inning game on Monday. Woodhavenโ€™s upcoming opponents include Wyandotte on April 30, followed by Taylor on May 1.

    18. Rochester Adams (15-4)

    Rochester Adams holds a 2-2 record over its last four games, having recently suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Stoney Creek on Tuesday. The Highlanders have another chance to face Stoney Creek on May 2 before taking on Grosse Pointe North in a doubleheader on May 3.

    19. Trenton (13-3)

    The Trojans went 2-1 at the 9th Bob Kreszyn Classic on Saturday, achieving victories over Wayland and Flint Powers Catholic, with their only setback against Utica Ford. Additionally, Trenton triumphed over Taylor on Monday, and their next matchup is against Dearborn Edsel Ford on April 30.

    20. Midland (6-2)

    Midland upset the top-ranked team in the state, securing a 4-1 victory over Bay City Western on Monday. Despite a number of canceled games this season, the Chemicsโ€™ schedule is about to heat up, starting with a game against Davison on April 30.

    21. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (9-5)

    Pontiac Notre Dame Prep faced a tough doubleheader against Flushing on Saturday, resulting in two losses, but bounced back on Monday with a solid 9-2 win over U of D Jesuit.

    22. Detroit Western (13-5)

    After a 12-7 win against Grosse Pointe North on Saturday, the Cowboys suffered an 8-3 loss to Grosse Pointe South later that day. However, they regained their momentum with a 5-2 victory over Cass Tech on Tuesday. Detroit Western is set to face Livonia Stevenson next on April 30.

    23. Grand Ledge (13-5)

    The Comets faced a tough defeat in a doubleheader against Okemos on Monday, breaking a four-game winning streak. Grand Ledge will aim to bounce back during a doubleheader against Lansing Everett on May 1.

    24. Mattawan (8-2-3)

    Mattawan has triumphed in four of its last five outings, although they faced a setback against Grandville, losing 4-3 on Saturday. The Wildcats will take on Gull Lake next in a doubleheader on April 30.

    25. Allen Park (8-5)

    The Jaguars managed to avoid a third consecutive loss by overpowering Lincoln Park with a decisive 15-0 win on Monday. Allen Park will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to host Taylor for a doubleheader on April 30.

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