Ainslie Johnson and Pauu family lead two-time defending Southern Section champs to convincing win over Trinity League rival.
Cody Pitman threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns in the decisive win over previously-unbeaten Orange Lutheran on Friday.
Photo by David Hood
High School has proven it can take a punch and fight right back.
Following a humbling loss in the CIF State Open Division Bowl game last season, the proud program opened 2011 with five straight victories, including an impressive 20-0 opening-night win over two-time state bowl champion and San Diego Section power Oceanside.
Tight end Ainslie Johnson had huge
night for Orange Lutheran with two
TDs that measured a combined 135
yards.
Photo by David Hood
But Servite was stung two weeks ago on national television with a well-played but bitter 31-28 defeat to host and current No. 10 Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas.
Following a bye, Servite responded with a convincing 21-8 Trinity League opening-night win over previously unbeaten
Orange Lutheran at Cerritos College.
According to the Orange County Register, the Friars (5-1, 0-1) received touchdown receptions of 82 and 53 yards from tight end
Ainslie Johnson, 275 yards passing from
Cody Pittman and solid all-around games from the Pauu family, BYU-bound linebacker
Butch Pauu, his younger brother
Neil Pauu and their cousin
Mana Pauu, to record the solid victory.
Orange Lutheran quarterback Conner
Sullivan.
Photo by David Hood
Servite's vaunted defense almost recorded a shutout, but Orange Lutheran scored in the final minute.
Mana Pauu, a junior, gave Servite the lead for good 7-2 with three seconds left in the first half with a 3-yard TD run.
The score was set up, according to the
Los Angeles Times, on pass completions from Cody Pitman to Butch and Mana - both 18 yards - and a 16-yarder to Neil. Manu finished with 77 yards rushing on 16 carries.
In the second half, it was pretty much the combination of Pitman to Johnson which proved decisive.
Pittman completed 15 of 21 passes.
Servite coach Troy Thomas appears
always charged.
Photo by David Hood
Butch Pauu, who had more than 10 tackles, also added a second-half interception.
"It's so much fun playing with your cousins," Butch Pauu told
Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times. "It's something I've always dream of doing. To actually be able to do it is actually an awesome experience."
Said Servite coach Troy Thomas: "I was wishing there was a couple more Pauus but I think we're done. ... Hopefully I'll still be coaching when they have kids."
