Mater Dei (CA) sophomore breaks 30-year rushing record in monster performance

While Mater Dei (CA) has typically been known for producing elite quarterback talent, the Monarchs have had their fair share of high-caliber running backs come through the program.

However, none of those former stars ever had a night quite like the one Mater Dei sophomore Asir Nembhard had on Friday night, Oct. 23.

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In a weather-delayed, high-scoring 52-38 shootout win over Orange Lutheran (CA), Nembhard led the Santa Ana program, scoring three times and setting a single-game program record with 349 rushing yards on 22 carries.

He broke the previous record held by former Monarchs star Steve McNair set back in 1996.

With this performance, Nembhard has now surpassed 1,000 yards for his sophomore campaign with one game left in the regular season. He leads the Monarchs’ ground game with 1,035 yards and 13 touchdowns on 118 carries.

Mater Dei needed every bit of Nembhard’s massive night, in addition to a couple of defensive touchdowns, to get past the Lancers on Friday night.

A back-and-forth affair that ended after midnight due to a lengthy weather delay, Nembhard started the night scoring-wise with a short touchdown run nearly two minutes in after the Monarchs’ special teams unit forced a fumble deep in Orange Lutheran territory.

Facing an 11-point deficit with just more than a minute remaining in the first half, Nembhard scored the first of two long rushing touchdowns. He found a hole and broke loose scoring from 62 yards out to make it a four-point game.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Monarchs found themselves up with an opportunity to put the game away with a couple of first downs. Nembhard chose to one up it, breaking loose for a 59-yard touchdown.

With the win, Mater Dei moves to 7-2 on the year and is tied for second-place spot Southern California’s prestigious Trinity League. The Monarchs have one game remaining before kicking off postseason play as they’ll host fellow Super 25 team St. John Bosco (CA) on Friday, Oct. 30.

Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mater Dei (CA) sophomore breaks 30-year rushing record in monster performance