SOUTH COAST LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Mater Dei Coasts Past Mission Viejo

SANTA ANA — Mater Dei, determined to show off its talented team to the delight of most in a homecoming crowd of about 6,500, beat Mission Viejo, 38-7, in a South Coast League game Thursday at Santa Ana Stadium.

The victory clinched a share of the South Coast League title for the Monarchs (9-0, 4-0 in league), the second-ranked team in Orange County. Top-ranked Los Alamitos beat Fountain Valley, 45-14, in a Sunset League game Thursday.

Mater Dei got a strong performance from quarterback John Flynn, running back Steve Bodnar and wide receiver Rod Perry.

Flynn completed 12 of 16 passes for 173 yards and four touchdowns. Three of his scoring passes went to sophomore Perry. The pair lost a touchdown when Flynn was called for being past the line of scrimmage on what would have been a 20-yard scoring pass.

They connected on a 14-yarder to give Mater Dei a 10-7 lead with 5 minutes 41 seconds left in the half. Perry then got open on the sideline and caught a 35-yard scoring pass with 2:16 left in the half. The score put Mater Dei ahead, 17-7.

Perry got open in the right corner for a five-yard touchdown that put Mater Dei up, 31-7, with 6:53 left in the game. The play came on fourth down.

Perry also combined with Casey Rouintree for a 33-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Bodnar, a senior who has gained 1,236 yards this season, finished with 190 yards in 22 carries including a 17-yard touchdown run. He had 10 runs of 10 or more yards including one for 26.

Mission Viejo (3-6, 2-2) had a brief period of joy early in the second quarter. Todd Fielding scored on a nine-yard run to put the Diablos up, 7-3, with 11:46 left. Mission Viejo then worked an on-side kick and recovered the ball at midfield.

But the drive stalled and Mater Dei took over after a punt.