Rest of Servite’s Backfield Doesn’t Take a Back Seat to Anybody

Saturday was a night to remember for one member of the Servite High School backfield.

Tailback Derek Brown rushed for 312 yards in 37 carries and scored 2 touchdowns in the Friars’ 35-20 victory over Crespi at Orange Coast College. A Division I performance from a Divison I player.

The other two-thirds of the backfield?

Well, it was just another night on the job--steady, unassuming, effective--for quarterback Chris Johnson and fullback Garrett Greedy.

“Our whole offense is based on execution,” Servite Coach Jerry Person said. “Chris runs it all and it’s Garrett’s job to throw that block to break Derek. Sometimes he just spins guys around.”

Not exactly high-profile jobs. More like blue-collar chores.

But Johnson and Greedy did get a few chances to shine when Brown was carrying the ball.

Johnson, a senior, rushed for 42 yards in 7 carries and scored twice. Greedy had 58 yards in 11 carries and 1 touchdown.

Their rushing total (100 yards) was small compared with Brown’s, but it was better than most tailbacks . . . like Crespi’s Russell White (81 yards).

“We owe everything to Derek,” said Johnson, who also plays defensive back. “The defense keys on him and it opens things up for other players. But I think I showed I can do more than hand the ball off.”

On both of Johnson’s touchdown’s, he faked into the line to Brown and sprinted around right end.

His first score came on a first-down play at the Crespi 27. When the defense came up to meet Brown, Johnson slipped outside and went untouched until the goal line, where he ran over defensive back Ron Redell for Servite’s second touchdown.

Johnson scored again on a fourth and two play on the 7. Again he faked to Brown, sucking the defense in, and went untouched into the end zone.

Greedy’s touchdown was more basic. An up-the-middle type of play, where he burrowed behind the offensive line for a 1-yard touchdown, Servite’s first.

“Derek is the running back, I’m more like a guard in the backfield,” said Greedy, who also had 11 tackles on defense. “We’ve been working on my running, though.”