News Summary
Mater Dei football team secured their 15th straight victory over Servite with a 29-19 win during a Trinity League showdown. With this triumph, Mater Dei improves to a 5-2 record, solidifying their No. 3 rank in Orange County. Star running back Kennie Leggett shone with two touchdowns, while key defensive plays bolstered the team’s performance despite significant penalties. In contrast, Servite falls to 5-3, and both teams now prepare for critical upcoming matches.
Santa Ana, California – Mater Dei football team continued their domination over Servite, defeating them 29-19 in a Trinity League matchup on Saturday, October 18, at Santa Ana Stadium. This victory marked Mater Dei’s 15th consecutive win against Servite and extended their overall series lead to 47-17-2.
With this win, Mater Dei improved their season record to 5-2 and is currently ranked No. 3 in Orange County and 10th nationally by HSratings. Conversely, Servite’s loss brought their record to 5-3, landing them at No. 5 in the county and ninth in the state according to HSrating.
Mater Dei’s success in the game can be largely attributed to running back Kennie Leggett, who scored two touchdowns. Additionally, defensive backs CJ Lavender Jr. and Troy Bishop played pivotal roles, each contributing with interceptions that resulted in touchdowns for Mater Dei. The game saw Mater Dei leading at halftime 22-7 after a strong first half, and Leggett’s second touchdown, a 2-yard run in the third quarter, expanded the lead to 29-7.
On the other side, Servite’s quarterback, Kale Murphy, had a notable performance, completing 25 of 51 passes for a season-high total of 236 yards and throwing for three touchdowns. Mater Dei’s quarterback Ryan Hopkins also showcased his skills, completing 16 of 27 passes for 240 yards.
The game was characterized by an unusually high number of penalties. Mater Dei committed 15 penalties, resulting in a total of 127 yards lost throughout the contest. Despite the setbacks due to penalties, the team managed to maintain control of the game.
The rivalry matchup attracted an estimated crowd of 5,500 fans who witnessed the fierce competition, although both teams faced challenges with key player injuries. Servite was missing its leading rusher, Gavin Gutierrez, while Mater Dei was without lineman Tomu Topui.
Looking ahead, Mater Dei is scheduled to play against JSerra, who currently has a record of 3-5 and 0-3 in the league, on Friday, October 24. Meanwhile, Servite will take on St. John Bosco, who boasts an impressive record of 8-0 and holds a 3-0 standing in the league, on the same date.
This match further cements Mater Dei’s strong position in the league and highlights the ongoing rivalry with Servite, making upcoming games critical for both teams as they strive for better positions in the standings.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: Mater Dei Football Rebounds by Defeating Servite
- NJ.com: How to Watch Mater Dei vs. Servite
- MaxPreps: Mater Dei vs Servite Game Overview
- USA Today: How to Watch Servite vs Mater Dei
- On3: California High School Football Rankings
- Wikipedia: High School Football
- Google Search: High School Football California
- Google Scholar: California High School Football
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Football
- Google News: Mater Dei Football
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
