Mater Dei rallies to defeat St. John Bosco in top California high school football showdown: Live score recap

The Monarchs overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the Braves in the nations top rivalry game

St. John Bosco (left) and Mater Dei during coin flip at the LA Memorial Coliseum in the 2023 CIF Southern Section Division 1 final. Mater Dei prevailed 35-7. / Photo: Heston Quan

The No. 7 Mater Dei Monarchs (7-2) defeated the No. 1 St. John Bosco Braves (9-1) 36-31 in a top national high school football and Trinity League matchup on Friday at Panish Family Stadium.

The Monarchs trailed by as much as 21 points in the second quarter, but a second-half offensive that found its playmakers and a defense that forced three turnovers helped them complete the comeback.

Mater Dei star wide receivers Chris Henry Jr. (Ohio State) and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (Ohio State) combined for five touchdowns, four in the second half, and defensive back CJ Lavender Jr. (UCLA) had two interceptions for the Monarchs.

St. John Bosco still had opportunities to win the game while Mater Dei made its comeback. The Braves got the ball to the 1-yard line in the final two minutes, but a bad snap forced them backwards. Quarterback Koa Malau'ulu threw his third interception of the game two plays later.

St. John Bosco wide receiver Madden Williams became the Braves all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (27) in the game.

St. John Bosco is High School On SI's top-ranked team in the nation, and Mater Dei is No. 25.

Read the full live score recap below.

Mater Dei

• Mark Bowman, Sr., TE - 5-star committed to USC
• Chris Henry Jr., Sr., WR - 5-star committed to Ohio State
• Kodi Greene, Sr., OT - 5-star committed to Washington
• Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Sr., 4-star committed to Ohio State
• Tomuhini Topui, Sr., DL — 4-star committed to USC
• Shaun Scott, Sr., DE — 4-star uncommitted

St. John Bosco

• Madden Williams, Sr., WR - 4-star committed to Texas A&M
• Daniel Odom, Sr., WR - 4-star committed to Oklahoma
• Joshua Holland, Sr., CB - 3-star committed to USC
• Jailen Hill, Jr., CB - 4-star uncommitted
• Isala Aisa Wily-Ava, Jr., S - 4-star uncommitted
• Brandon Nash, So., S 4-star uncommitted

Mater Dei rallies to defeat St. John Bosco in top California high school football showdown: Live score recap — October 31, 2025

First Quarter Updates

Mater Dei goes 3-and-out in its first possession. St. John Bosco takes over on its own 12-yard line.

FIELD GOAL MATER DEI! The Monarchs hit a field goal after a Braves fumble - Mater Dei 3, St. John Bosco 0 - 6:22 1Q

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! The Braves connect for a 78-yard touchdown pass from Koa Malau'ulu to sophomore receiver DJ Tubbs on third down. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 7, Mater Dei 3 - 3:33 1Q

Mater Dei is forced to punt, and it isn't a good one. The Braves will start a drive on their own 45-yard line - 1:43 1Q

END OF FIRST QUARTER: St. John Bosco 7, Mater Dei 3

Second Quarter Updates

FIELD GOAL ST. JOHN BOSCO! CJ Wallace hits, and the Braves extend their lead - St. John Bosco 10, Mater Dei 3 - 10:52 2Q

Multiple sacks put the Monarchs close to their own end zone on 3rd-and-38. Mater Dei punts, and and the Braves will start a drive at midfield - 7:26 2Q

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! Junior defensive back Dillon Davis recovers a Malachi Roby fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Roby made it to the line of scrimmage and then lost the ball. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 17, Mater Dei 3 - 6:16 2Q

St. John Bosco junior linebacker Josiah Poyer stuffs Mater Dei running back Justin Lewis on 4th-and-2. The Braves will have the ball on the Mater Dei 44-yard line - 3:40 2Q

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! Junior running back Malik Allen gets to the edge and outruns a defender for a short-yardage touchdown. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 24, Mater Dei 3 - 3:23 2Q

TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI! Quarterback Ryan Hopkins connects with Chris Henry Jr. on a crossing route, and he outruns multiple Braves defenders for a 57-yard touchdown. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 24, Mater Dei 10 - 1:10 2Q

St. John Bosco connects for what looks like a deep touchdown pass just before halftime, but the referee called it incomplete. On the broadcast replay, it looks like a good catch, but the refs do not have on the field replay.

The Braves try a Hail Mary before halftime, but it's incomplete.

HALFTIME: St. John Bosco 24, Mater Dei 10

Third Quarter Updates

The Braves receive the kickoff, and the second half is underway.

INTERCEPTION BY MATER DEI! CJ Lavender Jr. intercepts a deep ball from Malau'ulu. The Monarchs have the ball on the Braves 40-yard line - 11:04 3Q

TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI! Senior wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt makes his first catch of the night, and it's for a 7-yard touchdown. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 24, Mater Dei 17 - 7:38 3Q

St. John Bosco sophomore wide receiver Jacob Reid makes a big catch on third down to keep St. John Bosco's drive alive.

TOUCHDOWN ST. JOHN BOSCO! Senior wide receiver Madden Williams catches a touchdown pass, and he is now the Braves career leader in touchdown receptions with 27. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 31, Mater Dei 17 - 4:31 3Q

TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI! Once again, Henry Jr. takes a quick pass for a long touchdown. He explodes for a 70-yard touchdown. PAT is good - St. John Bosco 31, Mater Dei 24 - 4:09 3Q

INTERCEPTION BY MATER DEI! Junior defensive back Aaryn Washington snags a pass and returns it to the 10-yard line. The Monarchs have great field position to tie the game.

TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI! Dixon-Wyatt makes a defender miss on his way to the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown catch. PAT is blocked by Isala Wily-Ava - St. John Bosco 31, Mater Dei 30 - 3:35 3Q

END OF THIRD QUARTER: St. John Bosco 31, Mater Dei 30

Fourth Quarter Updates

Braves quarterback Malau'ulu can't scramble and convert on 4th and 11 in Monarchs' territory. Mater Dei will get the ball with a chance to take the lead - 10:30 4Q

TOUCHDOWN MATER DEI! Dixon-Wyatt makes an acrobatic catch while covered in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown catch from Hopkins. The Monarchs go for the two-point conversion, but the pass is knocked down - Mater Dei 36, St. John Bosco 30

A defensive holding penalty wipes a Mater Dei interception off the board. St. John Bosco continues its drive on its own 32-yard line with 6:22 remaining.

The Braves have the ball on the Mater Dei 3-yard line with three minutes remaining and down by five points.

St. John Bosco got the ball to the 1-yard line, but a bad snap send the Braves backwards. Now its 4th and goal with 1:39 remaining.

INTERCEPTION BY MATER DEI! Lavender Jr. snags a pass in the corner of the end zone for his second interception of the night and Braves quarterback Malau'ulu's third. Lavender Jr. is called for a personal foul penalty for celebrating by taking his helmet off. The Monarchs will have the ball on their 5-yard line with 1:32 remaining. St. John Bosco has two timeouts.

St. John Bosco has used its two timeouts, and Mater Dei called its final timeout as well. It is 3rd-and-6 with 1:22 remaining.

Hopkins runs a QB draw and is a half-yard short. The Monarchs take the delay of game penalty and will punt - 0:36 4Q

St. John Bosco will have the ball on Mater Dei's 37-yard line with 26 seconds remaining. The Braves trail 36-31.

The Braves can't convert on two Hail Mary's. They will get a third and final try with two seconds remaining.

FINAL: Mater Dei 36, St. John Bosco 31

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