Southern-LA Section roundup: Servite believes for good reason

Credo, the Latin word for "I believe," is the motto for Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) High, and the football program is full of belief.

Servite did what most people probably would have thought impossible: Win the Southern Section's Pac-5 Division for the second year in a row and go through this season undefeated. The Friars have won 25 consecutive games as they matched the back-to-back titles won by Servite in 1982-83.

The most vindicated player on the field last week in a 41-27 victory over previously unbeaten Mission Viejo (13-1) was junior quarterback Cody Pittman. He was trying to fill the shoes of last year's star, Cody Fajardo, and most critics felt that Pittman was the weak link.

The weak link completed nine of 15 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, and ran 13 times for 77 – including a 40-yard carry that set up another touchdown. He was at his best in the first half when Servite really won the game, not only with the offense – which included Malik Felton's 24 carries for 184 yards and three touchdowns, and a 45-yard TD reception – but a bruising defense. The defense got four turnovers and knocked MV linebacker/quarterback Tre Madden out of the game with a separated shoulder, and forced three others to be helped off the field.

Servite (14-0) will play against Concord De La Salle (13-0) in the Open Bowl Championship on Saturday. The Friars were passed over for the Open game last season but won the Division II game.

"I feel great for our program and where we're at, and the guys that believe in it," said Servite coach Troy Thomas, who has now won two section titles in six years at Servite, and three in 10 years. Going back to his days at Crespi, he has coached teams to three titles in seven years.

"The kids have bought in and given so much to the program."

That might be evidenced in the words of linebacker Matt Inman, who is the face of Servite's defense.

"A lot of people play to win a championship just to get a ring, but it shouldn't be about that," Inman said. "It should be about playing one more week. About playing together."

They play together one more week.

Centennial rolls again and makes a solid case
Centennial (Corona) scored another one-sided victory, beating second-seeded Vista Murrieta, 45-21, as Barrinton Collins rushed for 286 yards and five touchdowns. The Huskies (14-0) had a legitimate claim to the Open Bowl berth given to Servite, but lost out on strength of schedule. The most compelling evidence that Centennial deserved the nod: They beat Mater Dei, 44-13, after leading 44-0 while Servite won, 21-14; they beat Chaparral, 45-12, and Servite beat the Pumas, who were without two of their best players, 28-7. Centennial will play Palo Alto in the Division I Bowl on Friday.

Oaks Christian wins dangerously
Oaks Christian-Westlake Village (12-2) threw away the safety net in its 29-28 victory over third-seeded Westlake (12-2). Rather than kick an extra point to tie the score after Brett Medders caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Richie Harrington, Oaks Christian snapped the ball to wildcat QB Blair Holliday who ran in for a game-winning two-point conversion with 44 seconds remaining. It paid off as Westlake kicker Alex Ball hit the goal post a 41-yard field goal attempt in the final five seconds.

Serra wins another title, ho-hum
If there's one team that can rival Centennial for domination of its competition, it's Serra (Gardena). The top-seeded Cavaliers defeated Arroyo Grande, 35-10, to run their winning streak to 29 games. Receiver George Farmer announced his intention to attend USC beforehand. The Cavaliers, who trailed 3-0 on Garrett Owens' 51-yard field goal, were hardly tested: They were up, 25-3, midway through the second quarter. Shaquille Richard carried 23 times for 162 yards and Conner Preston passed for four touchdowns as Serra won for the 52nd time in 55 games. They will play Folsom in the Division II Bowl on Saturday.

From other Southland championships:

Central: Colton 17, No. 1 Rancho Verde 7 – Longtime assistant but first year head coach Rich Bray guided the Yellowjackets (11-3) to their first title in 32 years as Tyler Ervin carried 44 times for 168 yards.

Southwest: No. 3 La Habra  35, No. 1 Tustin 26 – Highlanders (11-3), whose only losses were to Pac-5 teams from the Trinity League, won their fourth consecutive title and sixth under coach Frank Mazzotta as Drake Griffin ran for 317 yards and four touchdowns.

Southeast: No. 1 West Covina 37, Bonita 33 – Chris Solomon ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns, but it was QB George Johnson's one-yard run with 25 seconds remaining that gave West Covina (13-1) its first title since 2004.

Eastern: No. 4 Elsinore (Wildomar) 21, Summit 7 – Daniel Rodriguez rushed for two touchdowns – once after a punter was tackled on his own four-yard line – to lift Elsinore (12-2).

Southern: No. 1 Garden Grove 31, Beckman 30 – Josh Webb's aerobatic touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:27 remaining are worth finding on YouTube. He had 16 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns, 10 receptions for 144 yards and a score, and blocked a PAT as the Argonauts won their first title.

Northwest: Lompoc 20, No. 2 South Torrance 14 – With four seconds left in the game and the ball on the two-yard line, linebacker Joseph Valla stopped South fullback Eric Capacchione to give Lompoc (11-3) its fourth championship.

Mid-Valley: No. 2 Monrovia 38, Whittier Christian 8 –Nick Bueno threw three touchdown passes to Jay Henderson and Monrovia (12-2) won its first title in championship in 10 appearances.

East Valley: No. 1 Paraclete (Lancaster) 14, No. 3 Sierra Canyon 7 – The Spirits (13-1) won their eighth title and second in three years as Ryan Davis rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Northeast: No. 1 Bishop Union 30, No. 3 Vasquez 22 – Bishop (13-1) won the title for the first time since 1957. The Broncos had lost games in 1976, 1983 and 1992.

Crenshaw wins second straight City title
One of the most decisive victors of the weekend was Crenshaw-Los Angeles (12-2), which took advantage of eight turnovers – including five interceptions, three returned for touchdows – and repeated as the City titleholder with a 45-7 victory over top-seeded Carson (11-3) Saturday at the Coliseum. De'Anthony Thomas was named earlier this week as the City Section player of the year for the Cougars, who won their final 12 games. Thomas' performance in the championship warranted that selection. He rushed 12 times for 137 yards, scored twice and had two interceptions as "Black Mamba" won his final game before heading on to USC. His final carry was an aborted halfback pass, a 12-yard score in which he went from sideline to sideline early in the fourth quarter.

"One day he'll play in the league," Carson coach Elijah Asante said of Thomas. A cornerback and running back, Thomas said afterward that he wants to play tailback at USC. The only thing standing in his way is his durability. But when he has the ball, he is as exciting a player as there is.

Division II: Fairfax (Los Angeles) 51, Chatsworth 7 – Matt Bowen rushed for 211 yards and Terrance Hall 152 yards, and both scored twice, as Fairfax (10-3-1) won its first title since 2004.

Small Schools: View Park (Los Angeles) 28, Animo 18 – Develyn Elliott rushed for 226 yards and scored twice for View Park (11-1).

Martin Henderson is a reporter for Patch.com. He began covering Southland preps in 1993 for the Los Angeles Times, and has written for several papers including the Orange County Register and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. He offers up motorsports opinions at racescribe.wordpress.com. You can reach him at southlandpreps@yahoo.com