Mater Dei Overcomes Mistakes to Defeat Revived Ramona, 21-7

RIVERSIDE — Mater Dei overcame a turnover-plagued first half to defeat previously unbeaten Riverside Ramona, 21-7, Friday night at Ramona High School.

The Monarchs (4-0-1) and Rams (4-1) were tied, 7-7, going into the fourth quarter. Ramona was again proving that it is a rejuvenated team under first-year Coach John Tyree, who came from Pasadena Muir High. The Rams came into this season with a 19-game losing streak.

Mater Dei led, 7-0, on quarterback Derek Uhl’s 37-yard first-quarter touchdown pass to Brian Barajas. The Monarchs could have had a 14-0 lead, but Ramona’s Kris Olson took the ball away from Mater Dei running back Nickey Sualua, who was trying to extend into the end zone from the Ramona one-yard line. It was one of the Monarchs’ three first-half turnovers.

Ramona running back Raoul Henderson shocked the Monarchs when he broke loose on a quick opener and raced 72 yards for a touchdown with 3:28 left in the first half to tie the score, 7-7.

“They (Mater Dei) made a lot of mistakes,” Monarch Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “I really got on them at halftime.”

In the fourth quarter, Mater Dei took a 14-7 lead on Uhl’s one-yard quarterback sneak with 10:14 remaining. After holding the Rams on the next series, Brian Hall, who gained 121 yards in 16 carries, ran 41 yards to the Ram 11, setting up Moses Vasquez’ 11-yard touchdown run.