Servite Again Hands Colton Opening Loss, 28-21 : Friars’ Coach Calls Brown’s Number From Bedside; Tailback Gets 150 Yards

You’ve heard of an armchair quarterback? How about a bedside coach? Leo Hand, Servite High School’s football coach, made the calls from his bed in Long Beach Saturday night in the Friars’ 28-21 victory over Colton in front of 5,000 fans in Hanford Rants Stadium in Cerritos.

Hand had surgery performed a week ago and did not attend practice during the week. But he never missed a play thanks to the ingeniuty of booster Bill Frank.

Frank had a mobile telephone in the press box and relayed the game information to Hand, who made the calls from his home. Of course, with sophomore tailback Derek Brown in the backfield, it didn’t take a genius to figure out a game plan.

Brown, starting his first varsity game, gained 150 yards in 15 carries and scored 2 touchdowns as the Friars defeated Colton in their season opener for the third straight year.

Brown’s 45-yard touchdown run with 10:52 remaining in the game was the difference. He also had a 62-yard touchdown run called back late in the game because of an illegal block.

“I look forward to three years with Derek Brown in the backfield,” said Bob Walker, the Friars’ offensive coordinator. “I thought he was the best back on the field tonight.”

That’s saying a lot considering that George Hemingway, Colton’s terrific tailback, was on the same field. Hemingway finished with 101 yards in 24 carries, but failed to reach the end zone. He scored 17 touchdowns last year as a junior.

“That kid Brown is a heck of a back, and I understand he’s only a sophomore,” said Robin Luken, Colton coach. “We’ve played them three straight years now and taken it in the shorts three times. It will be interesting to see if we can bounce back.”

The game also marked the debut of Jason Messersmith as the Servite quarterback. The junior completed 7 of 13 pass attempts for 143 yards and scored 1 touchdown. He showed he has a great arm with a 47-yard pass to Nick-John Haiduc late in the game that had the crowd buzzing.

Messersmith, the son of former Dodger and Angel star pitcher Andy Messersmith, was a surprising starter in place of Brett Caya after sitting on the bench last year as the fourth-string quarterback on the Friars’ sophomore team.

Colton rushed for 257 yards in the game as Hemingway, Daryl Wingate and Ray Aldama took turns tearing through the Servite line for big gains. Aldama had 76 yards in only 6 carries in the half, including a 46-yard touchdown run with 1:11 remaining in the first quarter that gave the Yellowjackets a 14-7 lead.

Messersmith was noticeably nervous at the outset, but the junior settled down and finished with 91 yards passing in the first half. His 38-yard pass to Haiduc set up Eddie Brown’s 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter that tied the score, 14-14.

Hemingway set up Colton’s first touchdown when he recovered Derek Brown’s fumble at midfield. The bruising back showed his versatility by moving into the Yellowjacket backfield and carrying the ball on their opening five plays.