Mater Dei Catholic outlasts Saints and Pai Polamalu for 4-point win

CHULA VISTA — It was a game that had everything — strange plays, blocked kicks, stars coming up big, great catches….

But the biggest thing of all, host Mater Dei Catholic came from behind to capture their second victory of the year in a thrilling 33-28 victory over St. Augustine Friday night at Mater Dei Catholic High School.

“I feel so blessed to be on this team, with the line I have and the coaches I have,” said Crusaders senior running back Jordan Dumaran, who rushed for 225 yards on 33 carries and four touchdowns. “This was my biggest game ever.”

It’s not the “Holy Bowl,” but the rivalry between two of San Diego’s three Catholic schools is becoming a good one.

The Saints won the first eight matchups with the Crusaders through 2013, when they paused the rivalry. They didn’t meet again for eight years. Since the rivalry resumed in 2021, Mater Dei Catholic is 5-0.

St. Augustine (1-4), behind the outstanding play of Pai Polamalu, son of the legendary Steeler Troy Polamalu, rushed out to a 14-0 lead despite having just one snap under center in the first quarter.

On that one play, Saints quarterback Vince Smith hit Cooper Hamric over the middle for a big gain. Hamric refused to go down and the Crusaders defense attempted to strip the ball. They were successful, but Polamalu grabbed the ball and raced the remaining 30 yards for the 7-0 lead with 9:35 left in the quarter.

“I saw they were stripping the ball from (Hamric) and it came loose, so I stripped it back,” said Polamalu.

Polamalu made it 14-0 with another big play. The Crusaders drove right back down the field, only to be thwarted by Polamalu as he jumped the Mater Dei pass at the 5-yard line and raced 95 yards for the TD.

Mater Dei finally got on the board on the first play of the second quarter, when Dumaran went in from a yard out, only to see the extra point blocked by Polamalu.

The teams would trade scores the rest of the way. Dumaran went in from the 8 to close to 14-13. The Saints went back up 21-13 on a 60-yard bomb to a wide-open Harmic.

The Crusaders came back one more time as Noah Cook made a one-handed catch over his right shoulder for a 31-yard score to close the gap to 21-20 at the half.

In the second half, Polamalu went in standing from the 7-yard line with 7:31 left in the third quarter for a 28-20 lead to cap the drive he carried six times for 71 yards.

The Crusaders would get the last two TDs of the night for the victory.

First, Dumaran punched in a score from the 3-yard line with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.

The winning score came on Dumaran’s fourth TD of the night. He went in standing from the 11 with 6:59 left to play.

“To be honest with you, (Dumaran) is one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” said Mater Dei coach Rashard Cook. “He’s a coach’s dream – a high academic student, and a great kid. I’m so glad we have him.

Quarterback Jackson Munford had an outstanding game for the Crusaders, completing 18 of 23 passes for 238 yards.

Mater Dei Catholic 33, St. Augustine 28

St. Augustine – 14 7 7 0 – 28

Mater Dei Catholic – 0 20 6 7 – 33

SA – Polamalu 30 fumble return (Moore kick)

SA – Polamalu 95 interception return (Moore kick)

MD – Dumaran 1 run (kick failed)

MD – Dumaran 8 run (Mendoza kick)

SA – Hamric 60 pass from Smith (Moore kick)

MD – Cook 31 pass from Mumford (Mendoza kick)

SA – Polamalu 7 run (Mendoza kick)

MD – Dumaran 3 run (pass failed)