CHULA VISTA – In a year of the quarterback around the county, one getting overlooked all to often is Mater Dei Catholic’s Kartell Purvis.
He gave everyone a good look at his skills Friday night.
The senior completed 11 of 13 passes for 249 yards and five touchdowns to lead the No. 2 seeded Crusaders to an impressive 47-14 victory over No. 7 Bishop’s in the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 quarterfinals at Mater Dei Catholic Friday night.
“I’m still waiting,” said Purvis, a senior with no firm college offers yet. “I always feel I’m being overlooked. I don’t worry about it too much. I just go out and try to show them.”
“This is the kind of performance I’ve learned to expect from him,” said Mater Dei Catholic head coach Rashard Cook. “He’s definitely D-1 caliber. He’s got all the throws, he can run and he’s got good control of the offense.”
Purvis came out fast and furious.
On the opening drive of the game Purvis drove the Crusaders (8-3) to a quick 7-0 lead. He completed a pair of key passes to Larell Parker in the five play, 64-yard drive. First a 20-yarder, capped by a 39-yard to a wide-open Parker with 8:50 left in the quarter.
Mater Dei’s second drive, starting at their own 20 and drove all the way to the Bishop’s 1, with Purvis again completed key passes to Mekhi Oluwa for six yards and Isaiah Cook for 20. They tried to go for it quickly on a fourth-and-goal from the 1, but Purvis was thrown for a loss turning it over on downs at the 3.
It took the Crusader defense just one play to get it back, recovering a Bishop’s fumble at the 11. Two plays later Jordan Dumaran took it in from the 3 with 10:37 left in the half for a 13-0 advantage.
Bishop’s (7-4) got a TD back after driving 80 yards in 14 plays with Ruben Gutierrez taking in from the 2 with 1:19 to play in the half.
But Purvis wasn’t done.
His 55-yard pass to Matt Carr set up a beautiful over-the-shoulder TD pass to Julien Cromartie for the 26-yard touchdown with nine second left on the clock.
In the half Purvis was a perfect 6-for-6 for 166 yards and a pair of TDs.
The second half proved much the same.
First he rolled right and threw back over the middle for a 5-yard TD to Oluwa for a 27-7 lead. On the second drive of the half, he again showed his touch, connecting with Cromartie again for a 34-7 lead.
“It was a great throw,” said Cromartie. “From the moment we snapped the ball I had my eyes on it. If he give’s me a shot, I’ll go and get it.”
Purvis completed his assault on the Bishop’s defense, throwing a frozen rope to Parker for his fifth TD of the night from 19 yards out early in the fourth quarter.
The victory was the eighth in a row for Mater Dei after losses to Open Division No 3 seed Cathedral Catholic, and Division I No. 1 and No. 3 seeds San Marcos and Granite Hills, respectively to start the season.
The Crusaders will host No. 3 Helix next Friday night in the semifinals.
Mater Dei Catholic 47, Bishop’s 14
Bishop’s – 0 7 0 7 – 14Mater Dei Catholic 7 13 14 13 – 47
MD – Parker 13 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)
MD – Dumaran 3 run (kick failed)
B – Gutierrez 2 run (Granet kick)
MD – Cromartie 26 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)
MD – Oluwa 5 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)
MD – Cromartie 30 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)
MD – Parker 19 pass from Purvis (Mendoza kick)
B – Pfister 21 pass from Herrera (Granet kick)
MD – Sepeta 32 run (kick failed)