In one of the most electrifying high school football games of the season, the Mater Dei Monarchs pulled off a stunning second-half comeback to defeat rival St. John Bosco 36–31 on Friday night. The win not only handed the Braves their first loss of the year but also reignited Mater Dei’s championship hopes in dramatic fashion.
The matchup — a clash between two of California’s premier football powerhouses — lived up to every ounce of hype. St. John Bosco dominated the first half, riding explosive plays and defensive pressure to a 24–10 halftime lead. Quarterback Koa Malau’ulu connected early on a 78-yard touchdown strike to DJ Tubbs, and a fumble returned for a touchdown moments later gave the Braves firm control. Mater Dei struggled to find rhythm offensively, relying on a lone field goal and a late touchdown from wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. to stay within reach.
Everything changed after halftime. Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins found his rhythm, putting on a passing clinic in the second half. Hopkins finished 13-of-21 for 295 yards and five touchdowns, dissecting the Bosco defense with poise and precision. His top targets, Ohio State commits Chris Henry Jr. and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, were unstoppable. Henry totaled 213 yards and two scores, while Dixon-Wyatt exploded for three second-half touchdowns that swung the momentum completely in Mater Dei’s favor.
The Monarchs’ defense also rose to the occasion. After giving up 24 points in the first two quarters, Mater Dei tightened up — holding Bosco to just one touchdown the rest of the way. Cornerback CJ Lavender Jr. became the hero in the closing minutes, intercepting Malau’ulu in the end zone to seal the victory as the Braves threatened to take the lead back in the final seconds.“Our guys showed heart,” Mater Dei head coach Frank McManus said after the game. “They didn’t quit when we were down two scores. They believed, and that belief carried us through the second half.”
For St. John Bosco, the loss was a rare setback in an otherwise dominant season. The Braves, ranked No. 1 nationally entering the game, looked unbeatable through the first half but couldn’t recover from a series of mistakes and missed opportunities late.Mater Dei’s triumph not only spoiled Bosco’s undefeated run but also earned the Monarchs a share of the Trinity League title. The win serves as a reminder that in this storied Southern California rivalry, no lead is ever safe.
With both teams expected to meet again deep in the CIF playoffs, Friday night’s thriller might only be the first chapter of another classic Mater Dei–Bosco showdown.
