Live updates; No. 29 Mission Viejo at No. 6/SN No. 9 Mater Dei originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
SANTA ANA, California, Nov. 14 California’s postseason is finally here, and that usually means the state’s Division 1 champion is a shoo-in to also win the national championship.
Either Mater Dei or St. John Bosco has won at least a share of every high school national championship over the past eight years, but this year, the Monarchs are all but eliminated from national title consideration with two losses headed into the playoffs, and No. 3/SN No. 3 St. John Bosco needs some help. Mater Dei can still win another state title, however, and the Monarchs will get down to business Friday night hosting Mission Viejo at Santa Ana Stadium.
Mission Viejo opened the season with a 7-3 win over Santa Margarita a team that later beat Mater Dei, 7-6, so most of the data available to make a direct comparison points to a close contest. These games usually go in Mater Dei’s favor, however, and the Monarchs are 4-1 in playoff games against Mission Viejo since 2010.
The Diablos’ only win over the Monarchs during that span, in fact, came in 2010, and Mater Dei has the homefield advantage Friday night. But they’ve been uncharacteristically sloppy, and if Mission Viejo is to end that streak, there’s no better time than the present.
WATCH:No. 29 Mission Viejo at No. 6/SN No. 9 Mater Dei
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