Orange County Prep Football : Mater Dei Rallies for 43-34 Win Over St. Paul

Mater Dei High School scored 10 straight points on its final two possessions Friday night for a 43-34 Angelus League victory over St. Paul at Santa Fe Springs.

A 33-14 third-quarter lead disappeared for Mater Dei (7-1, 3-0) as St. Paul rallied for 20 straight points and a one-point edge with 8:28 remaining in the game.

St. Paul (2-6, 1-2) took the lead after linebacker Victor Olmedo recovered Mater Dei quarterback Mark Ramstack’s fumble and ran 20 yards for the score.

After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Monarchs the ball on their 46-yard line, Mater Dei took just six plays to go ahead again, 36-34, on Mike Ammann’s 18-yard field goal.

St. Paul was forced to punt on its ensuing possessions, and the Monarchs quickly drove 33 yards for the game’s final touchdown, as Ramstack threw a four-yard pass to Keith Labus.

“We lost our momentum in the fourth quarter, but we got it back just in time,” Mater Dei Coach Chuck Gallo said. “We’re in the playoffs now and going for the league championship.”

The Monarchs took an early 21-7 lead in the second quarter on touchdown runs of 33 and 3 yards by Robert Clifford.

A total of 21 points were scored in three offensive plays midway through the second quarter after Clifford’s second touchdown. St. Paul scored on its first play after the kickoff on a 49-yard run by Eugene Valdez. Mater Dei answered on its first offensive play with a 71-yard touchdown pass play from Ramstack to wide receiver George Lynch to give the Monarchs a 28-14 lead.