Alemany Is No Match for Mater Dei, 45-14

Matt Grootegoed of Mater Dei High does just about everything but carry the water bottles and tape his teammates’ ankles.

“We’ve had some great players, and Matt Grootegoed could go down in history as one of the greatest,” Coach Bruce Rollinson said.

There won’t be any arguments from Alemany High, which knew what Grootegoed was capable of accomplishing but felt helpless nonetheless Friday night in a Southern Section Division I quarterfinal at Alemany.

Grootegoed, Division I player of the year last season, ran for three touchdowns and returned an interception 68 yards for another to help Mater Dei (10-2) score a 45-14 victory.

The Monarchs, seeking their fifth Division I title this decade, play Eisenhower in the semifinals Dec. 11.

It’s pretty easy to understand why coaches at USC, UCLA, Washington and Stanford are recruiting the 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior.

“The guy is going to play on Sundays someday,” Alemany assistant coach Scott Marshall said.

It was Grootegoed’s interception with 1:40 left before halftime that left Alemany (8-4) feeling devastated.

The Indians trailed, 17-7, but were driving at the Mater Dei 31. Quarterback Casey Clausen tried to connect with running back De’Andre Scott, who was lined up wide, on a slant pattern.

Grootegoed, who was called for pass interference on the same play on Alemany’s opening possession, wasn’t fooled this time. He took the inside angle on Scott, intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Monarchs a 24-7 halftime lead.

“That was an unbelievable play,” Alemany Coach Jim Bonds said. “Casey put speed on that throw. He just stepped in. He’s going to be playing for a long time.”

Mater Dei’s strategy was to put its two best defensive backs--Grootegoed and Junior Palacios--on Scott and Derek Goodman, the Indians’ most dangerous threats.

Goodman caught a 59-yard touchdown pass and Scott scored on a 74-yard reception, but most of the game they were marked players.

Palacios rushed for 173 yards in 19 carries. Grootegoed rushed for 81 yards in 13 carries.