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Last-Second Kick Miss Ends Mater Dei's Title Hopes
22 Nov
Summary
- Mater Dei's bid for a CIF Southern Section championship ended in the semifinals.
- Centennial blocked a late field goal attempt to secure a 28-27 victory.
- This marks Mater Dei's first season with three losses since 2015.
For the first time since 2016, Mater Dei's football team will not contend for a CIF Southern Section championship. The Monarchs suffered a heart-wrenching 28-27 defeat against Centennial of Corona in the Division 1 semifinals. A crucial 46-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds was blocked by Centennial, sealing their victory and ending Mater Dei's season.
The game was a dramatic seesaw battle with multiple lead changes, including two in the final quarter. Mater Dei briefly took a 27-21 lead in the fourth quarter following a fumble recovery and touchdown pass, but Centennial responded with the game-winning score. Despite driving deep into opposing territory late in the game, Mater Dei's final offensive push was stymied, leading to the decisive field goal attempt.
This loss signifies a challenging season for Mater Dei, marking their first with three defeats since 2015 and their first time losing to the same opponent twice in a single season since 2013. Meanwhile, Centennial advances to face Santa Margarita for the Division 1 championship.
