Mater Dei’s football team showed its familiar bounce for the Air Strike passing tournament Saturday.

The Monarchs hope it’s a sign that they can bounce back when the real games start this fall.

Mater Dei reached a third consecutive Air Strike final but fell to receiver-loaded Alemany of Mission Hills, 28-12, at Dana Hills.

The Monarchs missed the playoffs last season — a rare occurrence for the Trinity League school — but offered plenty of competitive fire Saturday.

Mater Dei handed defending Pac-5 Division and state Division 1 bowl champion Santa Margarita its first passing defeat this offseason, 33-21, in the quarterfinals. The Monarchs also handled Mission Viejo and rising junior quarterback Ian Fieber, 34-19, in the semifinals.

Mater Dei senior-to-be quarterback Ryan McMahon had a strong day as did senior wide receiver/linebacker Thomas Duarte.

Duarte delivered an impressive performance against Santa Margarita. During once stretch, the senior caught a touchdown and grabbed an interception on the ensuing possession.

On defense, junior cornerback  Jonathan Lockett was again tough while fellow corner Treavon Coley, a senior, enjoyed a breakout afternoon. Coley returned an interception for a score against Alemany. Lockett made a spectacular, over-the-shoulder interception in the end zone against Alemany.

“Guys don’t have their heads down about last year,” Mater Dei senior-to-be wide receiver/linebacker Thomas Duarte said. “Today, we came together a lot and we grew as a team. I’m real happy.”

Mater Dei finished second to Long Beach Poly in the finals of the 2011 Air Strike. The Monarchs won the event in 2010.

Alemany, also a Pac-5 team, featured senior wide outs — Steven Mitchell and Devin Ross — with multiple Division 1 offers and an impressive sophomore-to-be, Desean Holmes, who caught a long touchdown on the first play of the championship.

More coverage to come.

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