Mater Dei, De La Salle Plan Series

SANTA ANA — Mater Dei and Concord De La Salle, two of the nation’s top prep football programs, have tentatively agreed to a two-game home-and-home series beginning in 1998. Mater Dei would host the first game.

Mater Dei Athletic Director Gary McKnight said some details remain to be worked out, but both coaches--the Monarchs’ Bruce Rollinson and Bob Ladouceur of De La Salle--were agreeable to the games.

McKnight said the schools had tried to schedule a game for the 1997 season but were unable to do so.

McKnight said no details can be worked out before Feb. 24, when De La Salle will know if it will remain in the Bay Valley Athletic League. If the Spartans have to join another league, then the games with Mater Dei could be in jeopardy.

The proposed games would match two teams that have dueled for No. 1 recognition at the state and national levels. Last year, Mater Dei was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today but No. 2 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports. De La Salle was ranked No. 3 in the nation by USA Today and No. 1 in the state.