Corona Centennial crushed Mater Dei‘s playoff dreams on Friday, Nov. 21 with a blocked field goal on the final play. The Huskies won 28-27 in a thrilling CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinal. Miles Schirmer blocked kicker Jerry Shifman‘s 46-yard attempt with just 9 seconds left.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Centennial improved to 11-1 with the upset victory over nationally ranked Mater Dei
- Second meeting of the season between rivals, with Centennial winning both games
- QB Dominick Catalano threw game-winning 24-yard TD to Keawe Browne with 1:35 left
- Mater Dei fell to 8-3 after their title hopes ended in Corona
- Centennial advances to Division 1 championship game at the Rose Bowl to face Santa Margarita
What Happened When Centennial Seized a Dramatic Victory
This wasn’t some wire-to-wire thrashing. It was a back-and-forth battle that kept swinging like a pendulum. Mater Dei got off to a hot start. The Monarchs scored first and led 10-0 early on. But then the Huskies fought back relentlessly.
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Dominick Catalano orchestrated a comeback that seemed impossible at times. He had 290 yards passing and 2 touchdowns running the ball. Plus the senior always seemed to find the right receiver when things looked tight. Keawe Browne was his target on the crucial go-ahead score with 1:35 remaining.
What made this so dramatic? Everything came down to that blocked field goal. Coach Matt Logan called timeout to ice Jerry Shifman. But Miles Schirmer burst through the line and reached high. The ball never made it over the crossbar. Game over. Centennial wins.
“I reached up and it hit my forearm. I just pulled all my strength on a bull rush and jumped as high as I could.” — Miles Schirmer, Centennial defensive lineman
Why This Loss Stung So Much for Mater Dei
This one hurts. Mater Dei was ranked nationally when the season started. They’ve won national championships before. Plus they were coming off a big win against Sierra Canyon just days earlier. The Monarchs looked like they belonged in the final.
But playoff football doesn’t care about pedigree. Ryan Hopkins and the Mater Dei offense put up 27 points. That should be enough to win most games. Yet Centennial just kept coming back. And then with seconds left, one block changed everything. Now Mater Dei’s season is done. Santa Margarita will face the Huskies instead of the Monarchs.
The Back-and-Forth Battle with Stats that Tell the Story
Look at how many times this game flipped. There were 5 lead changes total. Neither team led comfortably after halftime. Here’s what the score progression looked like:
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mater Dei | 7 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 27 |
| Centennial | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Mater Dei’s Ryan Hopkins went 129 of 221 for 2,081 yards this season with 16 touchdowns. But when it mattered most, Centennial’s defense made the play. Receiver Ty Plinski had several jaw-dropping catches for the Huskies. One one-handed grab in particular turned heads. He finished with 4 catches for 98 yards.
What Comes Next for These Teams
Centennial will take on Santa Margarita next Friday at the Rose Bowl for the championship. Santa Margarita actually beat Centennial 33-27 in overtime earlier this season on Aug. 28. So this will be a rubber match between two programs ready to battle.
Coach Matt Logan missed that first meeting after a health scare. He’ll be front and center for the final. Meanwhile, Carson Palmer, the first-year Santa Margarita coach, has his squad playing elite defense all season.
Mater Dei’s season ends here. But this loss doesn’t erase their strong year. Still, the blocked field goal will haunt them. And Centennial? They’ve now proven they can beat anybody twice in one season.
How Did This Cinderella Story Line End So Dramatically?
Centennial wasn’t supposed to be here. Well, maybe they were supposed to be here. But they definitely weren’t supposed to beat Mater Dei twice. The second matchup in the playoffs sealed it. With the nation watching on Friday night, the Huskies showed they belong on the biggest stage.
That blocked kick? That’s the play everyone will remember. Not the 290 yards passing from Catalano. Not Hopkins fighting until the final whistle. Just Miles Schirmer jumping high and swatting destiny away.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times – Game recap with coach quotes and individual statistics
- Sports Illustrated – Live play-by-play updates and final details
- MaxPreps – Team records and season performance data
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.