Mater Dei football fends off Centennial in opener with strong second half

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe nowCentennial’s Odadiah Baldwin II, center, chases down an errant snap against Mater Dei in Santa Ana on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
SANTA ANA — Mater Dei’s football team kicked off its season Thursday with a new coach, a new quarterback and the same lofty expectations.
Ranked No. 1 in the nation by multiple polls, Mater Dei introduced first