53. Mater Dei (
Last season’s record: 9-2, lost in first round of CIF-SS Pac-5 playoffs
Coach: Bruce Rollinson
Key players: QB Matt Barkley (6-3, 230, Sr.), DB/WR Christian Maldonado (6-0, 180, Sr.), RB Jaron Hytche (5-10, 210, Sr.), OT Chris Ward (6-5, 290, Jr.), LB Jordan Allen (5-10, 190, Jr.), OC Bryan Kiernan (6-2, 265, Sr.), DL Nick Lasoya (6-3, 280, Sr.), WR Victor Blackwell (6-1, 175, So.)
Biggest strength: QB
Question mark: Inexperienced in spots
Outlook: Four-year starter Barkley enters his senior having already won every imaginable national and state postseason honor. The USC commit is rated the No. 1 prospect in the country by every known recruiting service. As a junior, Barkley completed 213-of-340 passes (62 percent) for 3,560 yards and 35 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. The only question going into this season is the Monarchs’ supporting cast, which has five starters returning on each side of the ball but lost 10 players who signed with Division I and IAA colleges. Sophomore receiver Blackwell has great speed and will be counted on to make an immediate impact. Hytche returns at running back after leading the team in rushing. The offensive line must replace three starters but talented junior Ward is a great block around which to build. Mater Dei's defense returns a pair of all-league performers in Maldonado and Lasoya.
Toughest games: Sept. 3 vs.
4 comments:
Wow, listing 8 of their 10 games as "toughest" games seems ridiculous. Last season Santa Margarita was 5-5 and SJ Bosco was 3-6. For most of the other teams listed in the count down there are on avg about 4 tough games listed.
Whoops, sorry I miscounted. Only 7 of their games are listed as toughest games for 2008. That still seems like over estimating several of the teams they play this season.
They play in the toughest league in trhe country - bar none - so every league game would be in the toughest category for any other high school team also.
Probably not a lot of other high schools that can claim two Heisman Trophy winners - Matt Leinart and John Huarte and a strong candidate last year - Colt Brennan and now this year the top player in the country. I am sure at the end of the season they will have moved way up from this #54 ranking even with playing the toughest weekly schedule in the country.
Mater Dei is 0-4 against De La Salle. Your illustrious Hiesman Trophy winner Leinart was beaten twice by DLS. If there league was so tough, as you claim, they would be better prepaired for big games. Haven't won a CIF title in many years, early round playoff exits duringe last the few years.
Post a Comment