Orange County Prep Football : A Regular-Season Rematch for Rivalry : Edison and Servite Usually Save Their Meetings for the Playoffs

Edison and Servite high schools have staged some memorable playoff games the past five years, but the Chargers and Friars will meet for the first time during the regular season tonight at 7:30 in Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

Edison holds a 3-1 edge in the series, with the Friars’ only victory coming in 1981 when Servite, a wild-card entrant into the Big Five Conference playoffs, snapped the top-ranked Chargers’ 32-game win streak with a first-round 14-7 upset.

The Chargers beat the Friars in 1979 and 1980 on their way to Big Five Conference championships.

Wednesday’s rain served as a painful reminder for the Friars, who lost to Edison, 14-13, in the second round last season. It had rained for several days before that game, which was decided by a missed extra point.

Despite the soggy playing surface at Cerritos College, quarterbacks Mike Angelovic of Edison and Tim Rosenkranz of Servite had outstanding games, each passing for more than 200 yards.

Field conditions could be similar tonight. The Chargers are ranked No. 1 in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll; the Friars are third.

The Chargers have not allowed a point in their first two games, but their defense really wasn’t tested in victories over St. Anthony’s of Maui (21-0) and El Modena (35-0).

“It’s a good team unit,” Edison Coach Dave White said of his defense. “We gang tackle and pursue, and we haven’t made any big mistakes. But we haven’t faced a Servite yet. Derek Brown (Friar tailback) and Nick-John Haiduc (Friar receiver) are big-play guys. They scare me.”

Brown has rushed for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns in Servite’s victories over Colton (28-21) and Marina (28-9). Haiduc, who set a single-game receiving record with 12 receptions for 144 yards against the Chargers last year, has caught 7 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Servite’s quarterback is junior Jason Messersmith, who has completed 18 of 31 attempts for 333 yards and a touchdown.

Edison, which had a bye last week, relies on the running of junior Kaleaph Carter, who has gained 247 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. Mike Henderson, who moved from receiver to quarterback, has thrown for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Charger fullback Dave Sherman is out for the season with a fractured vertebra, and reserve Bernie Colacchio, who also starts at linebacker, is recovering from a knee injury. Colacchio should be able to play defense tonight, but senior Brad Rosenquist will make his first start at fullback.

“I think the game will come down to turnovers and special teams,” White said. “Both offenses are good and balanced, and both defenses are good. If someone turns the ball over four times and the other once, I think I know who will win.”

In other nonleague games tonight:

Riverside Poly (1-1) vs. Esperanza (2-0) at Bradford Stadium: The Bears will try to bounce back from last week’s 25-19 loss to Foothill--an embarrassing defeat in which Riverside Poly blew a 19-0 halftime lead. It won’t be easy.

The Aztecs, led by quarterback Mike Moneymaker, tailback Mike Miscione and an outstanding defense, have played extremely well in shutouts over Marina (17-0) and El Modena (28-0). Moneymaker is the county’s top-rated quarterback, having completed 18 of 32 passes for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns. Miscione ranks second in rushing with 280 yards in 40 carries.

Bolsa Grande (2-0) vs. Savanna (2-0) at Glover Stadium: The Matadors, with victories over Gahr (34-12) and Buena Park (42-8), are the eighth highest scoring team in the Southern Section after two weeks of play. The Rebels, who allowed 195 points during a 1-9 season in 1985, already have victories over Garden Grove (22-14) and Rancho Alamitos (12-0).

Damon Fisher has completed 9 of 21 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns for Bolsa Grande, and running back Travin Lui has gained 214 yards in 30 carries. Savanna is led by running back Stacy Strozier, who has gained 231 yards with 3 touchdowns.

Huntington Beach (1-1) vs. Newport Harbor (1-1) at Davidson Field: The Oilers, who were shut out in their season opener by Corona del Mar (3-0), rolled up more than 300 yards rushing in last week’s 36-19 victory over Bishop Montgomery, behind a huge offensive line and running backs Jason McGehee, Ken Rehling and Skip Murray.

The Sailors, after opening with a 29-6 loss to Santa Ana, came back to defeat Ocean View, 20-0, last week, as junior quarterback Kirk Summers completed 15 of 24 passes for 171 yards, and senior receiver Mark Craig caught 8 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Pacifica (1-1) vs. El Modena (0-2) at Fred Kelly Stadium: The Mariners, who recorded six shutouts in 1985, appeared headed for another last week until Millikan’s Ray Jones, surrounded by three Pacifica defenders, made a spectacular, 36-yard touchdown catch with 1:08 remaining to lift the Rams to a 7-3 victory. Pacifica had opened with a 33-7 victory over Villa Park.

The Vanguards, Southern Conference semifinalists in 1985 and champions in ’83 and ‘84, have not scored a point in 1986. El Modena has lost to top-ranked Edison, 35-0, and eighth-ranked Esperanza, 28-0. It doesn’t get any easier. Next week, El Modena plays second-ranked El Toro.

Irvine (0-2) vs. Tustin (1-1) at Northrup Field: Tiller Coach Marijon Ancich will make his second attempt at victory No. 200 after Tustin lost to Los Alamitos, 7-3, last week. The Tillers played a fine defensive game against the Griffins but couldn’t muster much of an offense, with the exception of the George Menges-to-tight-end-Dave Patstone combination, which produced 5 completions for 78 yards.

The Vaqueros have struggled in losses to University (34-20) and Westminster (32-0). Irvine wide receiver/defensive back George Koutures has scored two touchdowns.

Kennedy (0-2) vs. Fullerton (1-1) at Fullerton District Stadium: The Irish will be seeking their first victory when they take on the Indians, who lost to Damien, 13-7, last week. Fullerton relies on the running of Darrell Corbin, who rushed for 96 yards against Damien. The Kennedy offense failed to score in last week’s 19-6 loss to Western. The Irish touchdown against the Pioneers came on an interception return.

Sonora (0-2) vs. Don Lugo (1-1) at Chino High: The Raiders, under first-year Coach Steve Silverman, are still looking for their first points of 1986 after suffering shutouts at the hands of Northview (17-0) and Valencia (56-0). The Conquistadors opened with a 38-7 loss to Sunny Hills but came back to defeat Chino, 33-17, last week.

Chaffey (0-2) vs. Santiago (0-2) at Garden Grove High: Neither the Cavaliers nor the Tigers have scored in 1986. Santiago has lost to Orange (44-0) and Costa Mesa (25-0), and Chaffey has lost to Cypress (28-0) and Redlands (28-0).