Banning Overwhelmed, 37-0

It was supposed to be a matchup between the City Section’s top running back and Orange County’s best offensive player, but Friday’s nonleague game between Mater Dei and Wilmington Banning looked more like a coming-out party.

Mater Dei junior quarterback Matt Leinert passed for 195 yards and two touchdowns and senior running back Junior Palacios rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Monarchs to a 37-0 victory at Santa Ana Stadium.

The Pilots (1-3) were without senior running back Chris Howard, who sat out because of a knee injury. Howard, who rushed for 2,495 yards and 34 touchdowns last season, averaged 174 yards through three games this season and was responsible for four of Banning’s five touchdowns.

Mater Dei’s Matt Grootegoed, who rushed for 1,228 yards and 20 touchdowns while earning Times Orange County back of the year honors last season, started the game at quarterback, but was replaced by Leinert midway through the first quarter after suffering a thumb injury trying to block a punt.

Leinert promptly connected with Grootegoed out of the backfield for a 48-yard touchdown pass, giving the Monarchs a 14-0 lead.

It was one of the few times Grootegoed touched the ball on offense, as he finished with no yards rushing in three carries and completed only one of four passes for 37 yards.

“We had that play this week and no one picked him up,” Leinert said. “We just connected on the seam route and scored.”

Leinert, who did not play last season because of injuries, said he didn’t expect to take over full-time duties.

“It’s going to be the same way all year I think,” Leinert said. “Me and Groots are happy with it, it’s working and we’re back on track.”

The Monarchs (3-2) led, 27-0, at halftime. Palacios, who was also injured for most of last season, capped the game’s opening drive with a one-yard touchdown run, then added a three-yard run midway through the second quarter to give Mater Dei a 20-0 lead.

“I thought Junior had a hot hand and I wanted to see Junior get up and go a little bit,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “Matt will be there. It’s a nice situation when you don’t have to play Grootegoed that much.”

The Monarchs increased their lead just before halftime, when Leinert rolled out and hit tight end Lewis Clapp with a 22-yard touchdown pass.

A 30-yard field goal by Bryan New midway through the third quarter gave Mater Dei a 30-0 lead, and Aaron Blalock finished off the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.