Bishop Gorman and Mater Dei (California) have solidified themselves as the top high school football programs in the nation over the past decade.
The Gaels have won four mythical national titles (2014, 2015, 2016, 2023), while Mater Dei has six (1994, 1996, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021).
The teams will meet at 7 p.m. Friday in Santa Ana, California, in what could be the de facto high school football national championship game. Mater Dei (1-0) is ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps and USA Today. Gorman (2-0) is No. 2.
To claim another championship, the Gaels must earn their first win against the Monarchs.
Here’s a look back at all three meetings between the high school football powers:
2017: Mater Dei 35, Bishop Gorman 21
Gorman had won the previous three national championships and was on a 55-game winning streak entering this matchup.
But its run of dominance came to an end Sept. 1 in Santa Ana in its first meeting with Mater Dei. It was the Gaels’ first loss since a 28-12 defeat to Booker T. Washington (Florida) on Oct. 4, 2013.
Former Southern California and Georgia quarterback J.T. Daniels completed 19 of 31 passes for 309 yards and threw two touchdowns for Mater Dei. The Monarchs, who were ranked No. 1 at the time, went on to go 15-0 and win the national championship.
Mater Dei was ahead 14-7 at halftime and led the rest of the way. The Monarchs extended their lead to 28-7, but Gorman, ranked No. 3, answered with a pair of touchdowns. Mater Dei sealed the win on the second touchdown run of the night from Glenn Harper.
Now-Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 16 of 39 passes for 344 yards for Gorman. He also threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.
Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman added 182 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Gaels. Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan had 100 receiving yards for Gorman, which finished the year 13-2.
2018: Mater Dei 42, Bishop Gorman 0
The running clock is often in effect at Gorman’s Ferttita Field. The Gaels are just almost never the ones trailing.
But the clock was ticking against Gorman in its 2018 season opener Aug. 24. It was the first time the Gaels were shut out since Sept. 16, 2006, by Rock Bridge (Missouri).
Now-Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 10 of 13 passes for 256 yards with four touchdowns and ran for another score for Mater Dei. The Monarchs, ranked No. 3 nationally, had five scoring plays of 34 yards or more.
Gorman, ranked No. 11, managed just 65 yards of offense in the second half. The Gaels failed to capitalize on a pair of early turnovers and could not convert on fourth-and-goal just before halftime trailing 14-0.
Mater Dei went 14-1 and avenged a regular-season loss to St. John Bosco in the postseason to win its second straight national title. Gorman started 1-3 in 2018 after playing four out-of-state opponents. The Gaels then won 10 straight to finish 11-3.
2022: Mater Dei 24, Bishop Gorman 21
The best game between the schools happened in the most recent meeting at Fertitta Field.
Gorman, ranked No. 6, led by 14 points twice, but No. 3 Mater Dei scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for the win Aug. 26 in front of a near-capacity crowd of 5,000.
Mater Dei kicker Andre Medina drilled a 25-yard field goal with over three minutes left, and the Monarchs sealed the win when Gorman turned the ball over on downs on the following possession.
Gorman quarterback Micah Alejado, now at Hawaii, threw touchdown passes to Elija Lofton (Miami) and Trech Kekahuna (Wisconsin) to go ahead 14-0. Alejado hit Zachariah Branch (Southern California) later in the third quarter to put the Gaels ahead 21-7.
Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown threw three touchdown passes to help the Monarchs rally. Running back Jordon Davison, a four-star recruit and Oregon commit, added 88 rushing yards.
Gorman finished 14-1 in 2022 and was ranked fourth nationally by MaxPreps. Mater Dei finished ranked No. 2 at 12-1, with its only loss coming against eventual national champion St. John Bosco in the postseason.
Contact Alex Wright at [email protected]. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
Up next
Who: No. 2 Bishop Gorman at No. 1 Mater Dei (Calif.)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Santa Ana Stadium, Santa Ana, Calif.
TV: Bally Sports SoCal
