Live updates: No. 5/SN No. 3 Centennial (CA) leads No. 6/SN No. 7 Mater Dei (CA), 21-16, in 3rd quarter originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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CORONA, California, Nov. 21 — Same time. Same place. Same two California high school football powerhouses.

The Huskies defeated Mater Dei, 43-36, back on September 12, and they knew their path to California’s Division 1 state championship – and, possibly, a national title – was bound to run through the Monarchs again. They probably would have preferred that it come a week later in California’s Division 1 Southern Section championship game, but instead, they got paired in the same bracket as the Monarchs. The game is one of two semifinal matchups Friday night with the No. 10/SN No. 25 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles hosting the No. 34 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers in the other semifinal.

At the very least, Centennial will be spared the challenge of having to face the bracket’s top-ranked St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves after they were upset by Orange Lutheran a week ago, but they might very well have to face Santa Margarita in the championship game if they can figure out a way to beat Mater Dei a second time. Santa Margarita is responsible for the only blemish on Centennial’s record, having beaten the Huskies, 33-27, in overtime way back on August 28.

Suffice it to to say, there is no easy path through the Southern Section bracket, but the Huskies have proven they can beat the mighty Monarchs once. The question now is … can they do it again?

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CENTENNIAL 21, MATER DEI 16 3RD QTR.

|| THIRD QUARTER ||

– Another third-down conversion, and Mater Dei has the ball at the 5 for a first-and-goal.

– Mater Dei converts on another third down, and the Monarchs are inside the Centennial 20.

– A shovel pass on third down moves the chains for Mater Dei, and the Monarchs are driving near Centennial’s 30 with less than three minutes in the period.

– Third-and-long for Mater Dei, and a pass falls incomplete. However, Centennial is flagged for pass interference, and the Monarchs keep possession.

– TOUCHDOWN CENTENNIAL. Huskies regain the lead with a 77-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard keeper into the end zone from Dominick Catalano. PAT is good. (Centennial, 21-16 | 6:32, 3rd)

– Centennial threatening to retake the lead after the Huskies convert a long pass play (and what a stupendous catch it was), followed by a roughing the passer penalty on Mater Dei. Huskies’ ball inside the 10.

Another one-handed catch of the year for Ty Plinski of Corona Centennial. Catalano scores on two-yard run. Centennial 21, Mater Dei 16 pic.twitter.com/SIcAOkcV34

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 22, 2025

– Mater Dei forces Centennial to punt, but the Huskies will do the same to the Monarchs. Centennial to get the ball with about nine minutes to go in the third.

– TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI. Monarchs need just two plays to retake the lead, as Ryan Hopkins connects with Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for a 43-yard catch-and-run. However, the PAT is blocked. (Mater Dei, 16-14 | 10:52, 3rd)

– Mater Dei receives the kickoff to start the second half, and the Monarchs break off a long return and start just beyond midfield.

|| HALFTIME ||

– Mater Dei runs out the clock, and we are at the break with Centennial scoring two unanswered TDs to end the opening half.

|| SECOND QUARTER ||

– TOUCHDOWN CENTENNIAL. Huskies take the lead right before halftime as Dominick Catalano takes in a keeper 4 yards to the house. The TD was set up by a brilliant catch on the sideline from Keawe Browne. (Centennial, 14-10 | :26, 2nd)

What a catch. Keawe Browne. And Dominick Catalano scores on four-yard TD run. With 26.5 left in second quarter Corona Centennial 14, Mater Dei 10. 187 yards passing for Catalano. pic.twitter.com/FQ6aGhP2Te

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 22, 2025

– Centennial forces Mater Dei to punt, and the Huskies will get the ball back with more than two minutes to go in the first half.

– TOUCHDOWN CENTENNIAL. This time, the Huskies are able to convert on fourth down, as on a fourth-and-short from the 4, Malaki Davis takes it in to finish off a 10-play drive. (Mater Dei, 10-7 | 4:02, 4th)

– FIELD GOAL MATER DEI. Monarchs nearly fumbled in the red zone, but the ball goes out of bounds. Centennial eventually holds on defense, and Jerry Shifman comes on to kick a 26-yard field goal to extend the Monarchs’ lead. (Mater Dei, 10-0 | 8:35, 2nd)

– For the third time already, Centennial gets stopped on fourth down, this time inside its own 30. Mater Dei with a tremendous opportunity here.

|| FIRST QUARTER ||

– Mater Dei stops Centennial on downs for the second time in the opening quarter.

– TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI. Kennie Leggett goes in from a yard out, capping a 64-yard drive on the Monarchs’ opening series. (Mater Dei, 7-0 | 3:39, 1st)

– Centennial gets into Mater Dei territory on the opening series, but turns it over on downs.

– Mater Dei kicks things off to Centennial, and we are now under way.

Coming soon!

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