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Mater Dei’s football team will play nine regular-season games — one less than the regular limit of 10 games — barring a late addition to its schedule, coach Raul Lara confirmed.
The Monarchs have been searching this summer for an opponent to fill out the nonleague portion of their schedule. They have four nonleague games scheduled and five in the Trinity League.
Lara said Friday that the nine-game slate is finalized “for right now” but hopes to continue the search for one more nonleague game.
In late June, Lara said Mater Dei was seeking a nonleague opponent to play in Week 1. The Monarchs open their season in Week 0 by playing host to Centennial Corona on Aug. 22 at Santa Ana Stadium.
Lara was hired in late April to replace Frank McManus, who was dismissed by Mater Dei after last season.
“We might play (nine games) because I got here so late and that (10th) game wasn’t scheduled,” Lara said in June.
“You can’t schedule a game that late,” the coach added. “If we don’t (add a 10th game), oh well, we play nine games.”
Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the nation in multiple preseason polls, will have two bye weeks if its schedule doesn’t change. The Monarchs would be off Week 1 (Aug. 29-31) and Week 5 (Sept. 26-28).
Mater Dei begins the Trinity League against Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High on Oct. 4. The Eagles recently stated they are switching the site of their home games to Trabuco Hills from Saddleback College.
Mater Dei is the defending CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State Open Division champion, and were crowned national champion by High School Football America last season.
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