Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) vs. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), SaturdayServite, 14-0 and ranked 10th in the Xcellent 25 this week, garnered Southern California's bid into the Open Division state bowl championship game after winning the CIF-SS Pac-5 division title for the second straight year. The Friars have won 25 consecutive games and were the Division II bowl champion a year ago. They have an excellent defense that allowed only 13 points per game against one of the toughest schedules in the state. On offense, senior
Malik Felton moved to running back in mid-October and responded by rushing for more than 100 yards in seven of nine games including the last three playoff contests. He gained 184 yards and scored four touchdowns in last week's 41-27 win over Mission Viejo.
Connor Loftus gives Servite an edge in the kicking game against almost any opponent. The senior has booted 15 field goals this season and is also a tremendous punter.
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De La Salle has qualified for a bowl in all five seasons the games have been held. It will attempt to defend the Open Division title it won over Crenshaw (Los Angeles) last season. The Spartans (13-0) are ranked eighth in the Xcellent 25 and haven't lost to a California opponent since the 2008 Division I bowl game against Centennial (Corona). This year's squad has won its games by an average of 37 points. Despite having an advantage in size up front, Servite will have its hands full trying to stop De La Salle's offense. The Spartans have an experienced quarterback in
Bart Houston at the controls -- the junior has thrown for 1,863 yards and 20 touchdowns – and a small but tough senior running back named
Lucas Dunne (5-8, 173), who has run for 1,662 yards and 31 scores.
Mitch Stephens: De La Salle 28, Servite 27
Steve Montoya: Servite 17, De La Salle 10
Stephen Spiewak: Servite 21, De La Salle 17
Kevin Askeland: De La Salle 42, Servite 17
Jamie DeMoney: De La Salle 28, Servite 16
MaxPreps Projection: De La Salle 28, Servite 21
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