Sports
Mater Dei pulls away late to win CIF Open Division state football title
Too much talent. That was the story of the CIF Open Division state championship bowl game on Saturday night.
Santa Ana Mater Dei showed why it was a heavy favorite, mixing a bruising rushing attack with a precision aerial assault to overwhelm Concord De La Salle 37-15 and complete the “southern sweep” at Saddleback College.
Earlier in the day, Palos Verdes won the Division 2-A contest and Huntington Beach Edison won the Division 1-A game, setting the stage for a marquee matchup between North Coast Section and Southern Section champions.
The Monarchs’ dominant performance showed their program is in capable hands under first-year coach Raul Lara, who turned Long Beach Poly into a public school powerhouse in the early 2000s while piloting the Jackrabbits to five section titles in 13 seasons.
Senior quarterback Dash Beierly completed 18 of 27 passes for a season-high 355 yards and three touchdowns while fellow Washington commit Marcus Harris caught six passes for 92 yards. Oregon-bound Jordon Davison rushed 17 times for 107 yards as Mater Dei pulled away with two fourth-quarter scores.
Mater Dei was aggressive from the start. On its first offensive play, Beierly found Harris over the middle for a 25-yard gain and Davison ended the 80-yard, seven-play drive with a three-yard run.
Mater Dei running back Jordon Davison heads to the end zone against De La Salle through a big hole in the offensive line during the CIF Open Division state championship bowl game on Saturday night at Saddleback College.
(Craig Weston)
Mater Dei needed one play to double its lead on its third possession as Beierly fired a pass from his own goal line in stride to slot receiver Gavin Honore for a 90-yard touchdown. The next time the Monarchs got the ball, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt leaped high in the air for a 31-yard grab at the Spartans’ two-yard line but a goal line stand kept the proud Spartans in the game. However, Toa Fa’avae was sacked in the end zone for a safety by linebackers Nasir Wyatt and Shaun Scott.
After Koen Parnell stretched out for a dazzling mid-air catch for 40 yards, Dixon-Wyatt scored on a 21-yard swing route to increase the margin to 23-0 with 48 seconds left in the first half.
Fa’avae capped an 11-play, 65-yard march that took nearly seven minutes off the clock with a one-yard sneak to pull the Spartans to within 23-7 on their first drive of the third quarter. After the defense forced a punt, Fa’avae scored on a 41-yard quarterback draw and Derrick Blanche added the two-point conversion run to make it an eight-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.
Mater Dei responded with a 92-yard, 16-play drive that ended on a 15-yard run up the middle by Davison to increase the Monarchs’ lead to 30-15 with 8:19 left. Beierly threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Bowman to make it 37-15 three minutes later. Interceptions by Alabama-bound linebacker Abduall Sanders and defensive back Ace Leutele sealed the deal.
De La Salle once sat where Mater Dei is now — as King of the Hill in California — when stringing together a national-record 151 consecutive wins from 1992 to 2004. The biggest victory during that streak was a 29-15 triumph over Long Beach Poly (then coached by Lara) in a matchup between the top two ranked high school teams in the country.
De La Salle pulled out all the stops to make it competitive Saturday, even inviting back legendary coach Bob Ladouceur — the architect of the Spartans’ streak — to stand on the sideline for Saturday’s game. Not even his aura could make up for the difference in talent on the field.
Mater Dei defensive back Ace Leutele makes a one-handed interception against De La Salle in the fourth quarter Saturday in the CIF Open Division state championship bowl game at Saddleback College.
(Craig Weston)
Calpreps.com listed De La Salle as a 41-point underdog and the Spartans were trying to pull off the biggest upset since the inaugural Division I state bowl game in 2006 when they were undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation but lost 27-13 to Canyon Country Canyon at Home Depot Center in Carson.
De La Salle (12-1) was making its 17th state bowl appearance, more than any other school, and has won a record seven, but dropped to 7-10 overall and 6-6 in the Open Division since it debuted in 2008.
Mater Dei captured its fifth state bowl championship since 2017 — all in the Open Division — and tied Folsom for the second-most victories behind De La Salle. The Monarchs (13-0), who edged Trinity League rival St. John Bosco 31-24 two weeks ago for the Southern Section Division 1 title, achieved back-to-back state bowl wins for the second time, having done so in 2017-18.
Sports
Golf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
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There are good days on the golf course, and then there is what Haeran Ryu just did on Saturday.
Ryu, 25, recorded the lowest round in LPGA major history on Saturday with an 11-under 60 at the Evian Championship. With the South Korean golfer’s historic round, she holds a three-stroke lead.
Ryu’s round comes just two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship. On the 18th hole, Ryu left a 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short, and instead settled for a birdie.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the 18th green after the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
She said after the round that she had no idea what she had done until she counted up her scorecard.
“But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie,” she said. “Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now.”
If Ryu had made the eagle putt on the 18th hole, she would have been just the second player to shoot a 59 in LPGA history.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea celebrates a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 11, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Her 60 broke the record for the lowest round in an LPGA major by one shot. Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, each shot 61 at the Evian Championship, which was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
The lowest round in a men’s major is 62, which is shared by four players — Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea and Lottie Woad of England interact after their round on the 18th green during the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ryu hopes her historic third round can help propel her to a second major win in three weeks.
“That is amazing, amazing dream,” Ryu said. “So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Taylor Crabb is no stranger to South California beaches. The Long Beach State alum returns home this weekend to compete in AVP League matches.
It marks the first time AVP will compete in Long Beach since 2020 and allows players to compete at the 2028 Olympics beach volleyball venue.
Crabb, 34, made his AVP debut in 2013 with his brother, Trevor, and advanced from the qualifier in Manhattan Beach before finishing 25th in his first tournament.
After years of competing with various different partners, Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh have delivered the top performances this AVP season.
The following interview with Crabb has been edited for clarity and length.
Are you excited to compete in this weekend’s event at Long Beach?
Crabb: Very excited. A lot of my college teammates and part of the school have reached out, saying that they’re gonna come. So I’m excited to get a chance to play in front of them again.
When was the last time you were in Long Beach?
Crabb: I always try to go down there for alumni events or any big games they have. I went to UCLA against Long Beach last year, when it was No. 1 versus No. 2, so I always try to get down there and support them.
You missed out on the chance to compete in the 2020 Olympics because of COVID-19 restrictions and chose not to pursue a spot at the 2024 Olympics. Are you fired up to try to compete in the 2028 Olympics, knowing that Long Beach will host the competition?
Crabb: Yeah, it’s definitely an exciting time having the Olympics in Long Beach, and we kind of get to break it in this weekend. As you said, Tokyo didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’m going full force now. I have a great partner in Andy Benesh, who obviously went to the Paris Olympics, and if it weren’t for the Olympics being in Long Beach, and me getting a partner like Andy, I’m not even sure I’d be going for it, but because of those two things, I want to make the most of it.
You mentioned that if it wasn’t for a partner like Andy, you wouldn’t be going for it. What do you mean by that?
Crabb: I didn’t feel motivated by playing in all the international events, but now, I think, sitting out kind of lit the fire under me, and I’m really motivated now.
You’ve had different partners throughout your time. What other motivation does Andy give you?
Crabb: He’s been, in my mind, the top blocker for the U.S. the last four or five years. Seeing the professionalism he brings every day to practice, on and off the court, while traveling and when showing up to tournaments, it rubs off on you and that’s really motivating to see. And I just want to make him proud.
Why do you love volleyball?
Crabb: A lot of reasons, but it’s just a feeling I have when I’m out there on the court. It feels natural. It feels like home. I was born into a volleyball family. I had a volleyball in my hands my entire life, so I’ve always just enjoyed it.
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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger that was ready to step to him after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back to the “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes he’d be ready to deliver if a championship opportunity fell “out of the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk catches them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown superstars he’d think might come for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn could come back around and get his rematch if he wanted. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but the “American Nightmare” came out uncalled and marched his way down to the ring.
“I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore,” Punk told Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes looks on during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would want a match with him, just “say when.” It was a quick retort from Punk, who said, “when.” SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring for the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.
Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther was hoping it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will tag with Zayn.
Gunther didn’t take too kindly to that and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came back out to break up the calamity. He wanted to take on Gunther after the show went off air but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his entrance during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk definitely has his hands full as he moves to SmackDown to become a fighting champion.
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