Week 6 ushers in the start of Serra League play for 2004. The Eagles were 2-3 in Serra League play in 2003 and 9-9-1 since the league was formed in 1999.

This marks the earliest meeting of the season between the Eagles and Mater Dei Monarchs. The Eagles hold a 3-2 series edge.

Last year, Mater Dei rebounded from three consecutive losses to the Eagles by using a dominative running game and posting a 21-7 win over their rivals at Cal State Fullerton. In 2002, Ashton White scored two touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 19-0 shutout of arch-rival Mater Dei before 4,500 rain soaked fans at Trabuco Hills High School. In 2001, Ashton White rushed for 215 yards and Marshall Tharpe threw two td passes while the Eagle defense forced three turnovers and six sacks in defeating the Monarchs 33-19 at the Santa Ana Bowl. In 2000, The Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead behind two touchdowns by Tyler Thompson and made enough big plays on offense, defense and special teams to hold on and defeat the nationally ranked Monarchs 21-14 at Cal State Fullerton. In 1999, Mater Dei piled up 400 total yards while limiting the Eagles to 155 in a 34-0 victory before a crowd of 17,000 at Edison International Field. (Complete recaps of all four games are included herein.)

With the win over Foothill in Week 5, the Eagles have gone 21-2 in their past 23 non-league games at Saddleback College dating back to 1996 and 44-9-1 (.824) all-time in non-league play there.

The Monarchs are 4-1 on the season and ranked 25th in the nation per the Student Sports Fab 50. They are also rank No. 4 in the West per the National Prep Poll and USA Today. The Eagles are 3-3 against nationally ranked teams. The Monarchs are led by 16th-year coach Bruce Rollinson who is 162-39-2 (.803) at Mater Dei.

Eagle - Monarch History (SM Leads 3-2)
1999 MD 34, SM 0 @ Edison International Field
2000 SM 21, MD 14 @ Cal State Fullerton
2001 SM 33, MD 19 @ Santa Ana Bowl
2002 SM 19, MD 0 @ Trabuco Hills High School
2003 MD 21, SM 7 @ Cal State Fullerton

Situational Record – Mater Dei Game
Varsity Game No. and all-time Record: 186 132-50-3 (.722)
Home Game No. and all-time Record: 96 72-20-3 (.774)
Week 6 Record: 12-3 (.800)
Record at Saddleback College: 64-17-2 (.783)
Record at Saddleback in league play: 20-8-1 (.707)
Record vs. Mater Dei: 3-2 (2004 is 6th Mtg)
Record vs. Serra League Teams: 17-10-1 (.625)
Record in Serra League Play: 9-9-1 (.500)
Record vs. Orange County Schools: 74-34-1 (.683)
Record as a Division I team: 38-21-2 (.639)