No. 1 Mater Dei dominates No. 15 Mission Viejo, advances to section final

Video: Chris Street highlights
Sophomore running back looks like a future star to the top-ranked Monarchs.

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) is one step closer to state and potentially national titles after an impressive 49-21 win over No. 15 Mission Viejo in a California Southern Section Division 1 semifinal playoff game Friday.

Mater Dei (13-0) advances to set up another showdown next Saturday in the championship game with No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), who impressed as well with a 62-34 victory over No. 5 Centennial (Corona). Friday's winners met already back on Oct. 13 with the nation's top-ranked team coming out on top 31-21.

Against Mission Viejo (12-1), it was defense and the running game that sparked Mater Dei. The Monarchs went up 7-0 on a 42-yard pick-six from Kyron Ware-Hudson, then got touchdown runs from Chris Street (who reached the end zone twice), All-American junior quarterback JT Daniels and Glenn Harper to make it a 35-7 halftime advantage.

Daniels, who entered the game with nearly 3,400 yards and 42 touchdowns through the air, tossed two scoring strikes in the third quarter as the lead grew to 49-14.

The loss marked the end of the road for Mission Viejo head coach Bob Johnson, who announced in October that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2017 season. The 72-year old Orange County legend finishes with 345 victories and nine section titles.