PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : SERRA LEAGUE : MATER DEI

1998 RECORD: 13-1 overall, 5-0 in league

COACH: Bruce Rollinson (112-20-1 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS:

5 on offense, 4 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Aaron Blalock, FB, 5-11, 215, Sr.; Brown Faavae, DL/DB, 6-0, 195, Jr.; Robbie Gibson, WR/DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Ray Gilbert, WR/DB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Matt Grootegoed, QB/DB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Bryan New, RB/K, 5-7, 155, Jr.; Dan Owens, OL/DL, 6-2, 270, Sr.; Junior Palacios, RB/DB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Nick Stroffe, WR, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Matt Zeller, LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Matt Acalin, LB, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Steve Armstrong, DL, 6-2, 250, Jr.; Brian Baker, WR/DB, 6-1,180, Jr.; Mike Briseno, WR/DB, 5-8, 165, Sr.; Brian Delvecchio, DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Jeff Diulio, WR, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Ed Fane, OL/DL, 6-2, 270, Jr.; Ryan Griffith, OL, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Ian Gunderman, FB/LB, 6-0, 230, Jr.; Trevor Horvater, OL/DL, 6-2, 275, Jr.; Tyler Kruse, FB/LB, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Matt Leinart, QB, 6-4, 210, Jr.; Angel Lopez, DL, 6-2, 260, Sr.; Jason Murray, LB, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Darious Williams, RB/DB, 5-11, 185, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Rollinson is old school. The Mater Dei coach rarely articulates the quality of his team’s prospects this early. So when Rollinson says, “We will be very good” before having played a game, that is a warning salvo. The Monarchs are one of the state’s most successful programs, having won four Southern Section Division I titles this decade, including last year’s classic 33-26 victory over defending champion Long Beach Poly. Even with only nine returning starters, the Monarchs are deep at running back, quarterback and receiver, and have their usual complement of burly linemen. The shining jewel, of course, is Grootegoed, the 1998 Times Orange County back of the year. As a defensive back, Grootegoed led the team in tackles with 90; as a running back, he rushed for 1,238 yards and 20 touchdowns. He is the starting quarterback, meaning Mater Dei will use more option plays than in years past. On defense, the Monarchs welcome Kruse, a transfer from Fountain Valley and a Times Orange County first-team pick. Their rugged nonleague schedule includes rematches with Fresno Clovis West and Concord De La Salle, which begins the season with a national-record 88-game winning streak.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 11 at Fresno Clovis West; 11 vs. Loara at Santa Ana Stadium; 25 vs. Concord De La Salle at University of the Pacific.

Oct. 1 at Irvine; 8 at L.A. Banning; 15 at Santa Fe Springs St. Paul; 21 vs. L.A. Loyola at Santa Ana Stadium; 28 vs. Servite at Santa Ana Stadium.

Nov. 6 vs. Santa Margarita at Edison Field; 12 at Bellflower St. John Bosco.

SCHOOL WEB SITE

https://www.materdei.org/