Tonight’s Prep Football : Brown, Servite Face a Different Battle of Backs

Tonight’s season opener for the Servite High School football team will feature a battle of tailbacks.

It’s not the tailbacks: Russell White of Crespi, two-time Big Five player of the year, and Derek Brown of Servite. That matchup is still three weeks away.

But when the Friars play Colton tonight at 7:30 at Glover Stadium, it will be Brown vs. Johnny Atlas of Colton.

Both were 1,000-yard rushers in 1987.

Brown rushed for 1,080 yards, caught 23 passes and scored 15 touchdowns in 1987. He rushed for 217 yards, scoring 4 touchdowns, in the Big Five quarterfinals against Crespi. (White had 253 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-38 Crespi victory).

Atlas rushed for 1,325 yards last season, including 285 yards against San Gorgonio. He scored 10 touchdowns and averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

“It’ll be a good matchup,” Servite Coach Jerry Person said. “I imagine they’ll be keying on Derek. I know we’re worried about Atlas.”

The Friars faced Atlas in the season opener a year ago. Atlas had 77 yards rushing, including a 34-yard touchdown run, and went 75 yards for a touchdown on Colton’s first play, which was called back because of a penalty.

Brown had 68 yards rushing as Servite and Colton tied, 14-14.

“Atlas is a perfect name for a runner, especially him,” Servite Coach Jerry Person said. “In the last two years we played them, they’ve had 96 plays and only 12 were passes. If they stick to what they’ve done in the past, Atlas will be getting the ball quite a bit.”

Servite’s offensive philosophy is different, but only slightly. Brown will do the bulk of the work.

“No bones about it,” Person said. “If you have one of the best running backs in California, you better go with him.”

In a 2 p.m. game, Orange Lutheran is at Pater Noster. In games starting at 7:30 p.m., Carlsbad plays Saddleback at Santa Ana Stadium; Marina plays Esperanza at Valencia; Orange plays Santiago at Bolsa Grande; Capistrano Valley Christian is at Western Christian; Southern California Christian is at Bishop Diego, and Whittier Christian is at St. Monica.