By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
CARSON, Calif. - The call came from Crespi-Encino sophomore quarterback Bryan Bennett - "26 Hammer" - and senior running back E.J. Woods said he never felt so many butterflies.
"I've had butterflies before, but never anything like that," Woods said. "I told my guys give me a push and I'll get in."
On third-and-goal from the 2, Woods rode the back of 6-foot, 305-pound guard Julian Fields and flew into the wet Southern California night, landing three yards deep into the end zone, giving Crespi a rugged 13-10 victory over Servite-Anaheim a Southern Section Pac-5 semifinal game at the Home Depot Center Friday night.
Servite (10-3) took its first lead 10-7 following a 27-yard field goal by Nick Echeverry on the first possession of overtime.
After Woods was stuck for no gain on first down from the Servite 25, diminutive Austin Shanks (27 carries, 103 yards, one touchdown) went outside for consecutive runs of 10, six and three yards to make it third-and-1 from the 6.
Woods took a direct snap to get to the 1 but after two carries netted minus-1 yard, he went over the top for the game-winner.
"One way or another I was going to get in," Woods said. "I'm just glad they called my number."
The touchdown set off a wild celebration in the west end zone and Woods sprinted right for the Crespi cheering section.
Minutes earlier Servite coach Troy Thomas, in a driving rain, was leaping and exalting the Friars' cheering section to inspire the defense.
Afterward, Thomas was filled with emotions. After all, he led Crespi to Southern Section titles as a player and a coach, leaving for Servite in 2004.
"That's a heck of a way to lose a football game," Thomas said. "But if we were to lose a section semifinal game in overtime to anyone, I'm glad it's them. They're a heck of a football team over there. I've got a lot of friends over there and they've done a heck of a job."
One of his better friends is head Crespi coach Jeremiah Ross, who worked as Thomas' assistant at the Encino school. The two also served as graduate assistants at Fresno State.
When Thomas left in 2004, Ross took over.
"A lot of the reason we made it here tonight is because of (Thomas)," Ross said. "His influence is still felt greatly.
"But this game wasn't about him and I. It was about the boys and they all left in the field. It was a heck of a game."
It wasn't the prettiest, but rugged defenses and wet conditions dictated much of that.
Crespi managed 259 yards to 190 for Servite, which had a scant 32 during a scoreless first half. The Friars also finished with just eight first downs and rushed 36 times for just 90 yards.
"Our defense did the job, but we just couldn't get it done on offense," Thomas said. "You're not going to win many championship games with that lack of production."
Largely because Crespi dominated the ball, especially in the first half, Servite hardly got super playmaker D.J. Shoemate involved.
The 6-foot, 220-pound do-everything USC-bound athlete finished with 22 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. He also had two catches for 54 yards, including a 45-yard reception that set up his own 1-yard TD.
Shoemate, whose been averaging more than 30 touches per game, had only three in the first half. Four of his carries came in overtime.
"The flow of the game had much to do with that," Thomas said. "When you have the ball just 13 plays in a half, you're not going to get in the flow."
It's amazing Crespi, ranked 35th nationally by MaxPreps and No. 4 in the state, got in the flow this season to reach the section finals.
The Celts lost Division I quarterback Kevin Prince for the season on the sixth play of the year in a 20-6 loss to Birmingham-Lake Balboa.
Ross said he never lost faith in his team, although it was an up-hill climb.
"I felt all along this team could win a state championship," Ross said. "We're still alive to do it. The team has show tremendous guts and courage and tonight was no exception."
Senior linebacker Lucky Radley and senior defensive back Mark Watley led the Crespi defense with nine tackles apiece while Woods added two tackles for losses including a sack.
"Our defense was everywhere," Woods said. "They've been carrying us."
The offense has been pretty effective also, scoring 48 in a quarterfinal win last week.
But Servite was equally tenacious especially 5-7, 151-pound junior safety Bijon Samoodi, who had 12 tackles and an interception. Linebackers Dominic Greco, only a sophomore, and Austin Niklas added 10 and nine tackles, respectively. Niklas also forced a fumble.
"We kind of expected that kind of (defensive) game," Ross said. "We kind of expected to come down to the wire like that also."
Playing under a steady rain, Crespi led 7-0 at halftime but Servite was lucky it wasn't much worse.
The Celts dominated the ball (34 plays to 13) and time of possession (17:12 to 6:48) yet had just a 1-yard somersault into the end zone by Shanks with 2:22 left in the half to show for it.
The play capped a massive 16-play, 70-yard drive that featured four completions by Bennett, including a tremendous 11-yard catch by 6-foot-7 tight end Joseph Favria who actually reached over a pair of defensive backs to snag the ball away.
Ross went against the grain somewhat during the drive, taking away a 30-yard field goal by his own Christian Nast's with 3:15 left. Servite was called for roughing the kicker, giving the Celts first down at the 8.
After a 7-yard run by Woods and a stop for no gain, Shanks, a 5-8, 165-pound senior went over the right side and somersaulted into the end zone.
Crespi had another long drive - from its own 31 - end in a fumble on a second-and-goal call from the 3. Woods was stuck for a 2-yard loss, fumbled and Bison Samadhi recovered at the Servite 5.
A couple plays earlier, the Celts had a 28-yard TD run by Shanks wiped out by a holding call.
"We could have had a bigger cushion for sure, but we made a lot of mistakes at the right time," Ross said.
Shanks finished the half with 15 carries for 48 yards and Woods 10 carries for 31. Bennett was 6-for-8 for 71 yards, three of his completions to Favria for 33 yards.
Crespi had 151 total yards in the first half to 32 for Servite.
"I think we kind of let up after halftime," Woods said. "I think we thought we had it won."
After arguably the quietest half of Shoemate's varsity career, the Servite senior tied the score 7-7 with a 1-yard plunge over the top with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter.
Shoemate keyed the 12-play, 77-yard scoring drive with a 45-yard reception from Johnny McEntee, who pumped faked which froze the cornerback.
Shoemate hauled in the pass at the Crespi 30 and appeared headed for a touchdown, but linebacker Radley caught him from behind and tripped up Shoemate at the 14.
Three short runs made it 4th-and-1 from the 5, but after a fake to Shoemate, Samoodi powered for two yards, making it first-and-goal. After he went for 2 yards, Shoemate plunged over from the 1.
Samoodi set up the scoring drive with an interception at the Servite 23.
"I can't say enough about our defense," Thomas said. "They definitely put us in position to win."
Neither team mustered much of a chance to win it in the fourth quarter.
Crespi had one chance after an interception by Spencer Chapman gave the Celts first down at their own 46. A 13-yard completion to David Valencia and two short runs got the ball to the Servite 33, but Bennett, while being pursued heavily by Shoemate, grounded the ball.
The put it at the Crespi 45 and the drive stall. Neither team got within the other's 45-yard line when the clock struck zero.
"I'm just glad we got it done in OT," Woods said. "That would have been a hard one to live with had we lost."
SOUTHERN SECTION PAC-5 SEMIFINALS
Crespi 13, Servite 10
Servite 0 0 7 0 3 - 10
Crespi 0 7 0 0 6 - 13
SECOND QUARTER
C - Shanks 1 run (Nastos kick), 8:25
THIRD QUARTER
S - Shoemate 1 run (Echeverry kick), 6:11
OVERTIME
S - FG, Echeverry 27
C - Woods 2 run
STATISTICS
RUSHING
S: Shoemate 22-74, Portis 3-9, Hein 3-9, Samoodi 3-6, Johnson 1-3, McEntee 4-(-11). Totals 36-90.
C: Shanks 27-103, Woods 19-52, Fields 1-1, Bennett 1-(-15). Totals 48-141.
PASSING
S: McEntee 9-12-1-100.
C: Bennett 9-15-1-104, Radley 1-1-0-14.
RECEIVING
S: Shoemate 2-54, Johnson 2-14, Osterbaard 1-28, Samoodi 1-3, Portis 1-1.
C: Fauria 4-49, Stanton 3-31, Valencia 1-14, McKibbins 1-14, Shanks 1-10.
TEAM TOTALS
First downs: Crespi 16, Servite 8
Total yards: Crespi 259, Servite 190
Turnovers: Crespi 2, Servite 1.
