In his last high school game, Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown delivered an outstanding performance as he led the Monarchs to a 35-0 victory over San Mateo Serra in the CIF Open Division state championship bowl game on Saturday. Brown, who is committed to Stanford, threw touchdown passes to four receivers and completed 17 of 22 passes for 298 yards without any interceptions.
The win marked Mater Dei’s fourth state bowl title since 2017 and solidified its position as California’s best high school football team of the year. This victory was also the first under the leadership of Frank McManus, who took over as head coach in 2022 after the retirement of Bruce Rollinson following a distinguished 47-year coaching career at Mater Dei.
Brown’s impressive statistics throughout his high school career make him one of the most outstanding players in the school’s history and he’s entering college with an impressive record of 9,277 passing yards and 115 touchdowns. He will also graduate with two Southern Section titles and two state bowl titles.
Despite a few too many penalties, McManus was proud of the team’s dedication and preparation, ultimately leading them to a dominating win. Mater Dei’s defense was also a key factor, limiting Serra’s offense to just 58 yards and forcing several turnovers.
This victory not only solidified Mater Dei’s dominance in the Southern California high school football scene but also marked the seventh consecutive win for the Southern California representative in the Open Division title since its addition in 2008. This game also marked Serra’s third consecutive appearance in the Open Division final, with their lone win in state bowl games coming in 2017.
Overall, Mater Dei’s victory was a remarkable conclusion to an exceptional high school football career for Elijah Brown, showcasing his immense talent and contributing to his school’s storied history in high school football.
