HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I : Flynn, Rzeznik Lead Mater Dei

The passing combination of John Flynn to Michael-John Rzeznik led Santa Ana Mater Dei to a come-from-behind 17-14 victory over Santa Fe Springs St. Paul in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

Flynn, a junior quarterback, hooked up with Rzeznik on two fourth-down plays in the final three minutes. The second one was an eight-yard touchdown pass with 1:06 left.

“I didn’t even know it was fourth down,” Rzeznik said. “I just concentrated on the ball. I didn’t even know I was in the end zone.”

Rzeznik wasn’t the only one out of sorts. Flynn, who was 10 of 17 for 137 yards, put together a 76-yard drive, but it was hardly picture-perfect.

Flynn was called for passing beyond the line of scrimmage on a play at midfield, and then another penalty left the Monarchs with fourth and 15. Flynn looked right, then heaved a long pass down the middle of the field. Rzeznik leaped and grabbed it with his fingertips for a 43-yard gain to the St. Paul 13.

“He wasn’t even the primary receiver,” Flynn said. “All of a sudden, I saw MJ waving his hands. I let it go and said, ‘Hail Mary.’ ”

Said Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson: “To tell you the truth, I knew we were going to win this game. Of course, I was getting a little nervous toward the end.”

He had a right to be. It had been St. Paul’s game until the final two minutes.

This was a a matchup of old Angelus League rivals, dating back to the mid-1960s. St. Paul had returned to prominence this season when Marijon Ancich returned as the coach.

The Monarchs had not beaten an Ancich-coached team since 1966. He even had two victories over them as the coach at Tustin in 1989-90.

That hold continued through much of Friday’s game.

The Swordsmen (7-4) were content to pound the ball at the Monarchs, taking time off the clock. The strategy worked.

Running back Rich Avina gained 133 yards and scored on runs of 41 and 29 yards.

St. Paul led, 7-3, at halftime. The Monarchs had only 51 yards at that point.

Flynn put the Monarchs ahead with a six-yard touchdown pass to Peter Silvey with 8:19 left in the third quarter. But the Swordsmen didn’t panic. They continued to play keep-away with the ball.

When Avina scored his second touchdown with 3:18 left, St. Paul appeared to have the upset.

Then Flynn and Rzeznik went to work.