Bishop Gorman running back Corey Hinton reaches for the goal line but is stopped short by Mater Dei linebacker Sosene Schuster, left, and linebacker Ezekiel Su’a in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Gavin Honore gets out in front of the Bishop Gorman defender only to let a pass bounce out of his hands in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei defensive lineman Viliami Sisifa, left, and defensive lineman Montana Toilolo, right, wrap their arms around Bishop Gorman running back Trey Washington to pull him down in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei punter Campbell Bulger scrambles for the ball after bobbling the snap from center against Bishop Gorman in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Bishop Gorman quarterback Ace Amina, left, scores a touchdown despite the efforts of Mater Dei linebacker Ezekiel Su’a in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Rakim Guyness catches a late game pass against Bishop Gorman in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Bishop Gorman quarterback Ace Amina, left, avoids getting sacked by Mater Dei defensive lineman Viliami Sisifa in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei quarterback Paytyn Guess, left, scrambles away from Bishop Gorman outside linebacker Tausa’afia Taufa-Langi on a quarterback keeper in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei wide receiver Gavin Honore pulls in a pass against Bishop Gorman in the second quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei quarterback Paytyn Guess looks to pass the ball before being hit by Bishop Gorman defensive end Calvin Lea’ea in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei running back Asir Nembhard, center, is unable to get past Bishop Gorman outside linebacker Tausa’afia Taufa-Langi (9), defensive end Calvin Lea’ea and middle linebacker Tamatoa Gaoteotek, right, in Santa Ana on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
SANTA ANA – Mater Dei plays its Trinity League football opener in two weeks against Santa Margarita.
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Mater Dei has a lot of work to do.
The Monarchs could not jumpstart their offense, injured themselves with penalties at the worst times, surrendered a big turnover, were sloppy on special teams and their defense gave up big plays in an 18-8 loss to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas on Friday at Santa Ana Stadium.
It was the first loss of the season for Mater Dei and it came in its final nonleague game of the season. The Monarchs do not play next week, so they have plenty of time to figure things out before they play Santa Margarita in a Trinity League opener Oct. 2 at Saddleback College.
Santa Margarita is 5-0 after a win over Norco on Friday. Santa Margarita is ranked No. 4 in the nation by MaxPreps and is No. 1 in California according to HSratings.com and CalHiSports.com.
Mater Dei is No. 13 in MaxPreps’ national rankings and No. 4 in the HSratings and CalHiSports state rankings.
Mater Dei (4-1) did not score until four minutes remained in the fourth quarter.
“We just struggled,” said Mater Dei coach Raul Lara. “We’re trying to get this thing going.
“It’s either a position messed up here or a person messed up there. These are things we need to fix.”
MaxPreps has Bishop Gorman (4-1) at No. 8 in its national rankings.
The Gaels impressed Lara.
“They’re fast,” Lara said. “They’re big. They’re good.”
Mater Dei had a poor first half. The Monarchs went into halftime with 42 yards of offense and 48 yards in penalty yardage.
Bishop Gorman on its game-opening possession got a first down on a fourth-and-2 situation when a Mater Dei defensive player jumped offsides. The Gaels scored on a 1-yard run by running back Corey Hinton. The kick for the extra point missed, leaving Bishop Gorman with a 6-0 lead.
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On Mater Dei’s following possession the Gaels’ Darian Abella made an interception on a pass tipped by teammate Kamil Loud. Abella pulled in the ball at the Mater Dei 48-yard line and returned it to the Monarchs 8-yard line. Bishop Gorman had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Cason Clark to make it 9-0 in the first quarter.
Clark’s 30-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the second quarter gave Bishop Gorman a 12-0 halftime lead.
Hinton scored on a 23-yard run for a touchdown and an 18-0 lead in the third quarter.
Mater Dei finally scored with 4:37 left in the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Paytyn Guess to running back Asir Nembhard coming out of the backfield. A Guess-to-Gavin Honore pass for two points made it 18-8.
Hinton scored on a 1-yard run late in the final quarter for the final 25-8 score.
Mater Dei played without standout senior cornerback Danny Lang who was out because of a knee injury. Lang committed to USC. He was No. 11 on the Register’s “Hot 150” ranking of Orange County football players.
Bishop Gorman beat the Trinity League’s St. John Bosco, 38-28, on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas. The Gaels’ next game is a 5A Southern League home game on Friday against Faith Lutheran of Las Vegas.
Mater Dei went into the game with wins over Utah teams American Fork and Orem, Valor Christian of Colorado and, last week, Corona Centennial.
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