Game of the Week: Mater Dei vs. Edison

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Edison High Coach Dave White was among the 15,000 or so in

attendance last Saturday night to see if Mater Dei could knock off

Concord De La Salle, the nation’s top-rated prep football team.

The Monarchs didn’t stop De La Salle’s win streak at 102 games,

although the 31-28 defeat left White with nothing but praise for Mater

Dei.

“They are an outstanding football team, and I have nothing but respect

for (Mater Dei coach) Bruce (Rollinson) and his program. They proved

Saturday, once again, that they’re among the best. That’s the reason we

scheduled this game: we wanted to play the best.”

And unbeaten Edison (3-0) has its wish, as the two teams battle Friday

(7 p.m.) at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium in the Independent’s

Game of the Week.

This is the first meeting in 13 years between two of the Southern

Section’s most successful programs, and the one game that most everyone

has circled on their schedule.

For Edison, it’s simple: a victory over Mater Dei brings prestige back

to the program. For Mater Dei, the game presents the opportunity for the

Monarchs to continue their reign as the county school of the 1990s.

White knows that his team will need to play at its potential if it

hopes to hand Mater Dei consecutive losses for the first time in recent

memory.

“They’re awfully good,” White lamented. “You just can’t stop one guy,

because the entire team is solid. But, for them, it starts at

quarterback.”

Indeed, it does.

Mater Dei signal caller Matt Leinart should present Edison’s secondary

with its stiffest challenge of the season Friday. All Leinart did last

Saturday against the nation’s top team was throw for 401 yards and four touchdowns.

“He was amazing,” White said of Leinart. “He led them downfield time

and again, and they (Mater Dei) almost pulled it out. We’ll need to

pressure him all night if we hope to beat them.”

White knows that the Monarchs don’t stop with Leinart. No, size along

both lines, and a talented trio at running back, led by Darious Williams,

present further problems for the Chargers.

“In order to beat Mater Dei, we will need to own possession of the

game clock and not turn the ball over,” White said. “Playing to our

capabilities will be the key for us.”

Mater Dei (2-1) will need to be wary of an Edison team that has

averaged 31 points in its first three games, and a Charger offense that

is under the direction of Richard Schwartz, who has thrown 378 yards and

five touchdowns. When not going to the air, the Chargers will rely on a

rushing game led by Darryl Poston, who has gained 381 yards with five

touchdowns this year.

“We’re very excited to be playing Mater Dei,” White added. “This is a

big, big test for us, and we feel we have nothing to lose. It should be a

great game.”