Shoemate not the only prime-time player

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

It was evident early on Friday night that Servite’s DJ Shoemate wasn’t the only prime-time player on the field at Brea Olinda High, where the Friars beat Santa Margarita, 32-15, in a Trinity League opener.

Carlo Audagnotti of Santa Margarita reeled off his 51-yard touchdown run to begin the scoring -- and leave Servite fans breathless as they quickly fell behind, 7-0 -- and added a 48-yarder in the fourth quarter. He also had gains of 28 and 14 yards, and finished by my (approximate) numbers with 17 carries for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

‘Dude, he’s a heck of a football player,’ said Servite Coach Troy Thomas, when asked if Audagnotti (5-9, 175) might be one of the most underrated running backs around. Remember, this is the same cat who gained over 200 yards against St. Bonaventure the same night that Darrell Scott gained fewer than 80 against Santa Margarita.

‘He runs downhill,’ Thomas continued. ‘He’s a tough little sucker to bring down. He broke some tackles tonight, he’s so quick. Their offensive line did a nice job at times. But he’s done that on film every week. You bottle him up, you bottle him up, and schwoooop, there he goes.’

- Martin Henderson