It may still be early in the season, but Mater Dei and Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, the two highest-ranked teams in the country according to multiple ratings agencies, could have de facto won the national championship game in front of more than 8,000 fans.

And if Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium was all about marbles, the Monarchs (2-0) will have to prepare for the ring after their comfortable 31-15 win over the Gaels (2-1).

“I told them in the beginning that there is so much talent,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said. “If we understand the brotherhood, and we stick together, and we understand our assignments and execute them, then no one will beat us.”

Washington commit Dash Beierly rebounded in his debut, completing 13 of 15 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 49 yards, showing the short-yardage, multi-faceted game he displayed before transferring from Chaparral. Lara said Beierly had to get used to the change of scenery of playing at Mater Dei.

“The first race (I was) shaking off some rust,” Beierly said. “I came out very confident (today). The whole team came out very confident.”

Beierly connected with junior wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for 49 yards up the middle in the first quarter, helping set up a one-yard rushing touchdown from Jordon Davison and a 12-yard touchdown grab from 6-foot-6 wideout Chris Henry Jr. to take a 14-0 lead.

Mater Dei High quarterback Dash Beierly throws a pass from the pocket against Bishop Gorman on Friday at Santa Ana Stadium.

(Craig Weston)

After his first quarter score on the ground, Davison added another to start the scoring in the third, leaping down the right sideline for a 23-yard touchdown. The 6-foot senior finished the game with 99 yards in 19 carries. Mater Dei had 171 rushing yards overall.

But it wasn’t just the offense that benefited the Monarchs.

Sacks by Abduall Sanders and Dailon Clanton on the Gaels’ first possession set the tone for Bishop Gorman’s offensive struggles. In the second quarter, Oregon commit Nasir Wyatt tackled Gaels quarterback Melvin Spicer IV in Monarch territory. The stop led to a missed field goal attempt.

Mater Dei tackled Spicer six times, with Sanders and Clanton making two each.

“When I got here, that was something that was really discouraging,” Lara said. “It’s not even four guys. It’s eight guys. They’re tough when they get after the quarterback.”

Bishop Gorman scored a touchdown in the second quarter — helped by Mater Dei’s eight first-half penalties for 71 yards. With less than two minutes left in regulation, the Gaels added a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Gaels mustered just 152 yards of offense.

Mater Dei is undefeated against teams other than Trinity League rival St. John Bosco since the start of the 2016 season, with two more games between the programs potentially awaiting play in 2024.