CONOR O'BRIEN

Conor O'Brien's Journey began on April 21, 2012 when he makes a commitment to JSerra Catholic High School.
This blog will be a journey of his high school career.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

JSerra Football BQ 2014




Conor & Riley Football BQ 2014
So Darn Proud of my boys!!!  
They had an amazing season and today it was recognized at the Banquet!
Conor #7
*Player of the game for six games during the season*
            *Defense Player of the season!!!*
           * The most honorable award voted ALL-LEAGUE Trinity Player for the season*
Riley #3
*Player of the game for five of the games during the season*
*Coaches Award!!*
Riley as a Sophomore was voted ALL LEAGUE Trinity Player Second Team



Tuesday, December 9, 2014

LA Times All Trinity Team Selections



Varsity Times Insider
High school sports across the Southland



Sports High School Sports Varsity Times Insider 

Football: Josh Rosen, Nick Robinson share Trinity League MVP honors
Quarterbacks Josh Rosen of St. John Bosco and Nick Robinson of JSerra have been named to
co-most valuable players in the Trinity League.
The most valuable offensive players were juniors Sean McGrew of St. John Bosco and KJ Costello
of Santa Margarita.
The most valuable defensive players were Malik McMorris of Mater Dei and DJ Bailey of JSerra.
The most valuable linemen were Matt Katnik of St. John Bosco and Rick Wade of Santa Margarita.

First-team all-league offense

Joey Chenowith, St. John Bosco, WR, Sr.; Zach Robertson, St. John Bosco, OL, Sr.;
Jared Balter, TE, St. John Bosco, Sr.; Clifford Simms, RB, St. John Bosco, Sr.;
Sam Philippi, WR, JSerra, Sr.; Edward Vander, RB, JSerra, Jr.;
Ethan Aguayo, WR, Sr.; JSerra; Kyle Penniston, Mater Dei, TE, Sr.;
Oliv Sagapolu, Mater Dei, OL, Sr.; Kyle Sweet, Santa Margarita, WR, Sr.;
Austin Maihen, Santa Margarita, OL, Sr.; Travis Waller, Servite, QB, Sr.;
Clayton Johnston, Servite, OL, Sr.; LJ Northington, Orange Lutheran, QB, Jr.;
JD Pickell, Orange Lutheran, RB, Sr.; Jerry Fitschen, Orange Lutheran, K, Jr.

First-team all-league defense

Jacob Callier, St. John Bosco, DL, So. ; Traveon Beck, St. John Bosco DB, Jr.;
Mykal Tolliver, St. John Bosco, DB, Jr; Gavin Windes, St. John Bosco, DL, Sr.;
Conor O'Brien, JSerra, DB, Jr.; Aaron Matthews, JSerra, LB,
Sr.; David Eugenio, JSerra, LB, Sr.; Rasheed Williams, Mater Dei, DL, Sr.;
Gerran Brown, Mater De, LB, Sri; Rick Ellison, Santa Margarita, DB, Sr.;
Grady Higgins, Santa Margarita, LB, Sr.; Maurice Davison, Servite, DB, Sr.;
Jack Savage, Servite, LB, Sr.; Keisean Lucier-South, Orange Lutheran, DL, Sr.;
Jason Lind, Orange Lutheran, LB, Sr.; Dominic Scotto, JSerra, Punter, Sr.
Coaches Courage Award: Jake Olson, Orange Lutheran.

Friday, November 7, 2014

JSerra Makes the Plays Offs!

Football: JSerra Makes The Plays to Beat Servite

Edward Vander (10) rushed for three TDs in JSerra's 38-21 win over Servite. PHOTO BY CRAIG TAKATA
Edward Vander (10) rushed for three TDs in JSerra’s 38-21 win over Servite. PHOTO BY CRAIG TAKATA
Edward Vander made plays. Nick Robinson made plays. Ethan Aguayo made plays. You get the idea.
On the final night of Trinity League play for JSerra, the Lions made plays, enough of them to enjoy their widest margin of victory in league, 38-21, against a Servite program that was fighting for its playoff life.
The Lions capped the best regular season in school history by posting its ninth win in 10 games, sending them to the playoffs for the first time with the kind of momentum they hope will carry them deep into the Pac-5 showcase.
Vander rushed 29 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns on the Saddleback College turf. Robinson completed 11 of 15 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Aguayo returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown.
JSerra's Ethan Aguayo (17) defends Servite's Equanimeous St. Brown. PHOTO BY CRAIG TAKATA
JSerra’s Ethan Aguayo (17) defends Servite’s Equanimeous St. Brown. PHOTO BY CRAIG TAKATA
And the defense survived Travis Waller. They forced the Oregon-bound quarterback to fumble with David Eugenio recovering, and they intercepted a pass with Conor O’Brien doing the honors. They limited him to 11 of 24 passing for 177 yards and a touchdown pass. He carried 12 times for 49 yards and two TDs, of 5 and 19 yards. The first gave Servite a 7-0 lead, the latter cut Servite’s deficit to 341-21 on the final play of the third quarter.
“It’s a pressure cooker week in and week out,” Hartigan said of the Trinity gauntlet. “We’ve had some big wins, but we have to finish. Game 10 is always a dangerous game. We got what we want, a win going into the playoffs. You don’t want to lose this game and wonder who we really are.
“This was a game of big plays.”
Robinson made several key plays to keep drives going, including a fourth down completion on the scoring drive that gave JSerra a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, and a couple of completions in long yardage situations that led to Ethan Worden’s 32-yard field goal with 37 seconds in the half to go up 17-7.
Ethan Aguayo (17) left Servite defenders in his dust on 95-yard kickoff return for JSerra. PHOTO BY CRAIG TAKATA
Ethan Aguayo (17) left Servite defenders in his dust on 95-yard kickoff return for JSerra. PHOTO BY CRAIG TAKATA
Riley O’Brien took the opening kickoff of the second half at the 3, then made a backwards pass across the field to Aguayo at the 5, who took it the distance to complete a 95-yard kick return. That made it 24-7, and though Servite answered on its ensuing drive with Waller’s 23-yard scoring pass to Osiris St. Brown, it was a cushion JSerra was happy to have.
It was all part of the momentum that JSerra has built this season.
“We have gritty guys who trust and believe in each other,” Hartigan said. “When we made a mistake, we came back with a big play. … Up front, we weren’t as dominant as we’ve been, but we’re in the Trinity League. There were some good runs when we had to have them.”
When all was said and done, the Lions (9-1, 4-1) finished second in league behind Bosco (9-1, 5-0) while Servite (4-6, 1-4) finished fifth. Mater Dei (8-2, 3-2) took third and Santa Margarita Catholic (6-4, 2-3) fourth. The playoff pairings will be released on  Sunday. Margarita is expected to get one of two at-large berths with Servite considered for the other.
Coming into the season, many had Servite ranked among the top programs in the country with the likelihood the Friars would finish second in the Trinity League. Instead, they were instead replaced by JSerra, whose largest margin of victory in league prior to Friday was seven points.
“Not that it’s any easier, but we’re looking forward to playing a different opponent—in the first round, at least,” Hartigan said.
Servite coach AJ Gass is hoping his team gets a playoff chance, but he said he likes JSerra. 
“They’re very well coached, and their offensive plan complements every single play that goes with it,” Gass said. “They have a quarterback who makes great decisions, a running back who has a great burst, three great wide receivers. I wish them all the best with what they’ve been through. They’ve earned it.
“They’re as good as advertised.”

Thursday, November 6, 2014

OC Varsity November 6, 2014

Football: Studs, snubs after Week 9

November 06th, 2014, 2:43 pm ·

· posted by DAN ALBANO

Week 10 of the football season is here and there's still plenty to review with the Register's annual Hot 150 list of football players to watch.
The "studs" are ranked players who are having great seasons and the "snubs" are players exceeding my expectations or who I ranked too low on my list or perhaps not at all.
I'm keeping this positive, so my only two categories are Studs and Snubs. And with so many snubs piling up, it might be time for a Hot 200 next season.
STUDS
39. Parker Chase, Corona del Mar, DE -- The senior leads the Southern Section with 17 sacks. He racked up five last week in a victory against Beckman. Chase is a major contender for county defensive player of the year.
20. Matt Locher, Los Alamitos, LB -- Count Locher as another major defensive player of the year candidate. He has 127 total tackles, eighth in the Southern Section.
107. Adrian Contreras, Mater Dei, RB -- The senior is now healthy and it showed with a dominant effort last week against Santa Margarita. He could be just warming up.
SNUBS
NR (not rated) Conor O'Brien, JSerra, DB -- O'Brien contended for Defensive Player of the Week honors after grabbing two INTs and racking up 10 total tackles in a victory against Orange Lutheran.
NR Daniel Herber, Capistrano Valley Christian, LB -- The junior has emerged as one of the best small-school players in the county. He already has 103 total tackels and three INTs for the 6-3 Eagles.
NR Guy Demazeliere, Brethren Christian, WR -- How does a senior with 19 receiving TDs not get on the list? Coach McInally was high on his receiver entering the season and Demazeliere has proved that he belonged in the Hot 150. 
Please send nominees to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com

Monday, November 3, 2014

O.C. Top 10 for the Week 10:JSerra still on top

O.C. Top 10 for Week 10: JSerra still on top

STAFF WRITER 
REGISTER O.C. MEDIA POLL
1. JSerra, 8-1 (100 points)
Lions again were No. 1 on the ballots of all 10 of the poll’s media members after beating Orange Lutheran, 24-20. The win guaranteed that JSerra will be the Trinity League’s No. 2 representative in the Pac-5 Division playoffs. Jim Hartigan is a top candidate for county coach of the year, and Nick Robinsonwill be in the discussion for All-County quarterback.
2. Mater Dei, 7-2 (90)
Monarchs rebounded from loss to JSerra with 19-14 win over Santa Margarita and are 2-2 in the Trinity League. Over the past two weeks, Mater Dei’s offense has been in the red zone nine times with these results: five field goals made, three missed field goals, one failed fourth-down conversion attempt and zero touchdowns.
3. Santa Margarita, 6-3 (80)
Eagles were No. 3 on all 10 ballots after 19-14 loss to Mater Dei. Field position was huge in that game. Mater Dei’s average starting point for its offense was at its 47-yard line; Santa Margarita’s average starting point was its 17.
4. Servite, 4-5 (67)
The Friars’ 49-26 loss to St. John Bosco leaves them in a difficult position. No matter what happens this week, they will be the Trinity League’s No. 5 team which gives them at best an outside chance for one of the Pac-5’s two at-large berths.
5. Orange Lutheran, 4-5 (59)
Lancers are good enough to win the title of every other league in the county, but are 0-4 in the Trinity League. Their average losing margin in league is five points.
6. Mission Viejo, 8-2 (54)
Diablos concluded their regular season with a 24-17 win over El Toro, clinching another outright championship of the South Coast League. Their next game with be a home game in the West Valley Division playoffs.
7. Tesoro, 7-2 (38)
Titans were idle last week. They play San Juan Hills this week. A victory would make Tesoro the No. 2 team in the South Coast League, which should be good enough for a first-round home game in the West Valley Division playoffs.
8. Los Alamitos, 8-1 (31)
It was another one-sided Sunset League win for the Griffins, who beat Huntington Beach, 49-13, with a balanced offensive attack. They play Edison this week for the Sunset League championship. Los Alamitos in league is averaging 49 points a game while allowing 13 points a game.
9. Corona del Mar, 8-1 (16)
As expected, the Sea Kings are dominating the Pacific Coast League. They are are 4-0 in league after last week’s 35-13 win over Beckman that clinched their third consecutive league championship and extended their league winning streak to 14 games.
10. San Clemente, 8-1 (12)
Tritons made clutch plays on offense and defense in their 42-35 win over Trabuco Hills that clinched at least a share of the Sea View League championship. Their only loss was to Tesoro.
Also receiving votes: Edison, 7-2 (3)
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com

Thursday, October 30, 2014

JSerra VS. OLU 2014

orange-fend-patrick-fullb    orange-jserra-coast-thurs Riley punt block
              Conor Tackling on the Right                 FRONT page of the OC Register

More milestones, momentum for JSerra

STAFF WRITER 
 COSTA MESA - JSerra passed its first test as Orange County’s top-ranked team, but the Lions took a giant step toward a more important landmark Thursday night in the Trinity League.
With their faithful chanting “CIF! CIF! CIF!” from the stands in the closing seconds, the Lions held off No. 5 Orange Lutheran, 24-20, at Orange Coast College to move closer to the first playoff berth in school history.
JSerra (8-1) won its school-record eighth game, but more importantly, it improved to 3-1 in the Trinity League with a finale against Servite on the schedule for next week at Saddleback College.
“Hopefully this was enough to get in (CIF),” JSerra coach Jim Hartigan said. “Our No. 1 goal this year was to make the playoffs. … Hats off to our kids. They played hard.”
Orange Lutheran (4-5, 0-4) likely had its postseason chances ended. The Lancers lost another close game and their fans voiced displeasure with a turn of events in the final minute or so.
The Lancers cut JSerra’s lead to 24-20 with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter on a spectacular, 55-yard TD pass from quarterback LJ Northington to wide receiver Hudson Hankins. After the PAT sailed wide, the Lancers recovered the onside kick but were flagged for illegal batting the ball forward, Hartigan said.
On the onside play, the Lancers’ Austin Liles leaped along the JSerra sideline to hit the high-bouncing kick to a teammate who recovered the ball. But JSerra took possession and ran out the clock.
“It was forward,” Hartigan said of tip. “(But) very scary. We had an onside kick against (St. John) Bosco on this same field that we didn't get in our favor. ... I didn't want to have another one of those.”
Orange Lutheran coach Chuck Petersen said the onside play didn't decide the outcome and gave credit to JSerra.
"I've never heard of that call ... but that's not the reason we lost the game," he said. "JSerra played better than us. They coached better than us, and there were many opportunities in that ballgame for us to make some plays."
Quarterback Nick Robinson scored two 1-yard TD runs in the second half for the Lions, who never trailed and led, 10-7, at halftime. The senior also passed for 218 yards, including a 17-yard TD on a fly-pitch to Isaiah Diego-Williams (eight catches for 104 yards).
Robinson scored one of his TDs one play after being flipped onto his head attempting to dive over multiple defenders into the end zone.
"I'm just glad he got back up," Hartigan said. "He's a tough kid. That's Nick."
JSerra’s defense made its biggest stand of the fourth by forcing Orange Lutheran to turn the ball over on downs at the Lions 22 with 4:32 left. Safety Conor O’Brien (two interceptions) broke up a fourth-down pass and lineman Daniel Bailey (sack) made a tackle for loss on third down as JSerra protected a then, 24-14 lead. Bailey finished with two tackles for losses and added one quarterback hurry.
Orange Lutheran's four-point loss joins a ledger that include two three-point losses and one one-point defeat.
"It just says how good our league is," Petersen said. "You've got a four-loss team and they've been competitive. ... It says a lot about our kids that through disappointment and adversity, they continue to really fight. They've come back every time I've asked them to."
Orange Lutheran slightly outgained JSerra, 338-329, but the Lions didn't commit a turnover and forced two.
JSerra led, 10-7, at halftime thanks in large part to a couple interceptions by O’Brien. The senior intercepted passes at his 1 and 9 to wipe away scoring chances by the Lancers.
O’Brien's brother, Riley, also blocked a punt on Orange Lutheran’s game-opening possession, leading to a 30-yard field goal by Ethan Worden for an early 3-0 lead.
JSerra extended its lead to 10-0 on Robinson's 17-yard TD pass to Diego-Williams with 4:33 left in the half. Diego-Williams flashed his speed on the play. He came in motion from his receiver position and took a short pitch in front of Robinson and raced around the edge into the end zone.
A 26-yard punt return by Ethan Aguayo to the Lancers 42 gave the Lions good starting position for the scoring drive.
Orange Lutheran responded with a 56-yard scoring drive capped by a 1-yard TD sneak by Northington with 53 seconds left. Markell Quinn put the Lancers in good field position for the drive with a 43-yard kickoff return.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
Conor had an amazing game against OLU!
VICTORY 24-20
Check out the link below Conor made UTR Top Nation Performer of the week! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JjONdb6j6M&feature=youtu.be

Friday, October 24, 2014

JSerra VICTORY over Mater Dei! 2014

Huge breakthrough for No. 2 JSerra

STAFF WRITER 
SANTA ANA – The Orange County football universe changed Friday.
JSerra 17, Mater Dei 10.
It was only a few years that JSerra had to forfeit Trinity League games because it did not have enough healthy players to finish the season. Then the Lions started winning a league game here and there. They won their final two league games last year.
Now, JSerra is the No. 1 team in Orange County. The Lions were No. 2 this week in the Register’s poll. They just beat the No. 1 team, Mater Dei.
An obvious question -- Is beating Mater Dei the biggest win in JSerra football history? -- prompted an obvious answer.
“I’d have to say so,” JSerra coach Jim Hartigan said. “Yeah, sure.”
JSerra has won a couple of CIF championships in other sports. But nothing in the young school’s sports history perhaps matches beating Mater Dei in varsity football.
“It’s a great feeling,” JSerra quarterback Nick Robinson said. “I can’t describe it.”
Robinson did his part. His first pass of the game, on JSerra’s first offensive play of the game, was a 97-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Diego-Williams. He threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Sam Philippi in the third quarter to put JSerra ahead to stay, 14-10.
Another big play was something of a gamble. JSerra, on fourth-and-7 at the Lions’ 35-yard line, was lined up for a punt with less than two minutes to go. The snap went to up-back Aaron Matthews who ran it 10 yards for a first down.
That sealed the win for JSerra (7-1 overall, 2-1 in league).
Mater Dei (6-2, 1-2) likely needs to win its next two league games to get a guaranteed playoff berth. The Monarchs might end up being in the pool of candidates for one of the Pac-5 Division’s two at-large berths.
The Lions won without much production from running back Edward Vander. He rushed for 217 yards in last week’s loss to St. John Bosco, but was held to 46 yards on 16 carries Friday; he had only 5 yards on six first-half carries.
Philippi had eight catches for 110 yards. JSerra’s defense made several huge stops.
It was 7-7 at halftime. Mater Dei took a 10-7 lead on a 28-yard field goal by Elais Deeb in the third quarter.
Phippi’s touchdown reception put the Lions ahead to stay, 17-10. Evan Worden added three points on a fourth-quarter field goal.
Mater Dei’s game-opening possession ended with a punt that put JSerra on its 3-yard line. On the first play, Nick Robinson unleashed the long pass over the middle that Diego-Williams caught in stride near the JSerra 40. Diego-Williams outraced the defender for a 97-yard touchdown pass play.
The Monarchs got their first-half points on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jack Lowary to Andres Udria to tie the game, 7-7, in the second quarter to tie the game, 7-7.
Mater Dei plays home games the next two weeks, the final two weeks of the regular season. The Monarchs play Santa Margarita at Santa Ana Stadium next Friday and play Orange Lutheran there Nov. 7.
JSerra plays Orange Lutheran Thursday at Orange Coast College. The Lions conclude the regular season with a home game against Servite on Nov. 7 at Saddleback College.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
CONOR had an amazing defensive game!  We were so proud of Conor and all the boys.  They have worked so hard for so long and it paid off tonight!!!  CONGRATS Love you Mom, Dad, Elle, Papa and Grandma



Football: JSerra Earns Milestone Win Over Mater Dei

JSerra's Sam Philippi escapes a tackle by Mater Dei's Ben Humphreys and Jalen Cole on a 49-yard touchdown during the third quarter of a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER
JSerra’s Sam Philippi escapes a tackle by Mater Dei’s Ben Humphreys and Jalen Cole on a 49-yard touchdown during the third quarter of a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER
SANTA ANA- No more “moral” victories.  No more close calls.  No more showing improvement in the face of an agonizing defeat.
A gritty road effort by the JSerra Lions against one of the Trinity League’s traditional standards of excellence was finally represented with tangible success on the scoreboard.
JSerra's Edward Vander is tackled by Mater Dei's Gerran Brown during the first half of a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER
JSerra’s Edward Vander is tackled by Mater Dei’s Gerran Brown during the first half of a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER
Senior quarterback Nick Robinson threw for 209 yards and two touchdown passes,as the Lions knocked off Mater Dei, 17-10, Friday at Santa Ana Stadium.
“This is the best win in my JSerra career,” said Robinson, a three-year starter. “We finally knocked off Mater Dei, a great school with tradition.”
The Lions (7-1 overall,  2-1 in league) officially cemented their current standing as a bona fide league power with a historic triumph as they earned their first ever win over Mater Dei (6-2, 1-2).
Since 2006, Mater Dei had accumulated a perfect 8-0 record against the Lions, winning by an average margin of 34 points.
“Overall, this was a great victory for the school,” Lions coach Jim Hartigan said. “This week, we talked about what we had to do to get better and we did those things.”
JSerra’s victory not only put an end to that string of domination, but moved the Lions to the doorstep of their first ever Pac-5 playoff berth.
Mater Dei's Andres Udria avoids a tackle by JSerra's Riley O'Brien on his way to a 30-yard touchdown during the second quarter of a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER.
Mater Dei’s Andres Udria avoids a tackle by JSerra’s Riley O’Brien on his way to a 30-yard touchdown during the second quarter of a Trinity League game at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER.
With league games against Orange Lutheran (0-3) and Servite (1-2) remaining on their regular season schedule, a Lions’ victory in one of those two contests would clinch a playoff spot.
But Robinson knows there is still work to be done before the playoffs become a reality.
“Every game is going to be a fight because all the teams in the Trinity League are great,” Robinson said.
Friday’s meeting marked the first time that both teams entered their annual battle considered among the best in California.
JSerra was ranked ninth, fifth and third, respectively. .
After forcing Mater Dei to punt on the game’s first series, the Lions’ first offensive snap of the game yielded a huge play.
Starting at his own 3-yard line, Robinson dropped back and fired a perfect pass to receiver Isaiah Diego-Williams, who outraced the Monarchs defense to the end zone to complete a 97-yard touchdown reception and give JSerra a 7-0 lead.
JSerra's Sam Philippi catches a pass during a 49-yard touchdown play during the third quarter of a Trinity League game against Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER.
JSerra’s Sam Philippi catches a pass during a 49-yard touchdown play during the third quarter of a Trinity League game against Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER.
“Nick came up with a big throw,” Hartigan said.
Despite the big play, Mater Dei possessed the ball for all but 13 seconds of the first quarter and outgained the Lions in total yardage  for the half 179-125.
The Monarchs tied the game with just under seven minutes left in the first half, as senior wide receiver Andres Udria took a pass from senior quarterback Jack Lowary and weaved his way into the end zone to complete a 30-yard touchdown reception.
Mater Dei had one final chance to take the lead late in the half, but Diego-Williams intercepted Lowary at the Lions’ 22-yard line with 1:16 remaining before the intermission.
An interception by Monarchs’ defensive back Jalen Cole on Robinson’s first pass of the second half set up a 28-yard field goal by Elias Deeb that gave Mater Dei its first and only lead of the night at 10-7.
Robinson and senior wide receiver Sam Philippi answered later in the period. One play after connecting on an 18-yard pass play to the Monarchs 49-yard line, Robinson fired a strike over the middle to Philippi, who made a leaping two-handed catch, broke a tackle, and raced into the end zone to give JSerra a 14-10 lead.
Philippi finished with 8 receptions for 112 yards.
The Lions embarked on a 14-play, 52-yard march that burned nearly seven minutes off the clock and bridged the third and fourth quarters. The drive resulted in a 39-yard field goal by junior Ethan Worden to give JSerra a 17-10 advantage.
Mater Dei drove to the Lions’ 32-yard line with under five minutes remaining, but JSerra’s defense held on fourth down to force a turnover.
The Monarchs’ defense forced JSerra into a fourth and 2 snap from its own 40-yard line with under two minutes. The Lions, victimized by a fake punt in last week’s narrow defeat to St. John Bosco, showed they could do the same thing.
Senior Aaron Matthews took a direct snap from center and rumbled five yards for the game-clinching first down.
“We saw that there was an overload to the left, so we called a quick run to the right,” Matthews said. “This is a great feeling because Mater Dei is a good team and we needed to win to make sure we had a chance to go to the playoffs in a couple weeks.”
Hartigan also pointed to the fake punt as the game-sealing turning point.
“We got the look that we wanted and thought we could get the first down,” Hartigan said. “It was a great way to finish.”
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JSerra's Isaiah Diego-Williams makes a go-ahead catch touchdown catch during the first quarter of a Trinity League  game against Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER.
JSerra’s Isaiah Diego-Williams makes a go-ahead catch touchdown catch during the first quarter of a Trinity League game against Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. PHOTO BY JOSH BARBER.