Mater Dei Stops St. Paul Cold in 31-10 Victory

Junior Palacios ran for 199 yards in 26 carries and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns Friday as visiting Mater Dei turned a close game into a 31-10 nonleague victory over previously unbeaten Santa Fe Springs St. Paul.

Leading, 17-3, midway through the third quarter, Mater Dei quarterback Matt Grootegoed fumbled deep in St. Paul territory. Mike Holloway returned the ball 82 yards for a touchdown to pull the Swordsmen (5-1) within a touchdown with seven minutes to play.

On their next possession, the Swordsmen had a chance to tie when, after a 26-yard run by Jeff Corona, they reached the Monarch 9-yard line. But on fourth-and-one, Mater Dei defensive lineman Trevor Hovarter dropped St. Paul’s German Arias for a 1-yard loss, giving the Monarchs possession with 2:11 to play.

Four plays later, Palacios scored on an 83-yard run to open Mater Dei’s lead to 24-10. The Monarchs (4-2) would score again on St. Paul’s next play, when Cameron Carmona intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards for the final score.

Mater Dei’s defense held the potent St. Paul rushing game, which had averaged more than 300 yards a game this season, to only 86 yards. The Swordsmen had 140 yards in total offense to 342 for the Monarchs, who led 10-0 at halftime.

Grootegoed ran for 70 yards in 12 carries and scored one TD. Hampered by a hand injury suffered last week against Banning, he attempted only one pass.