PREP EXTRA / SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : DIVISION V : Servite Shuts Out Battered Western

In the playoffs, pretty and artistic are nice afterthoughts. The objective is to win.

Servite met that objective with a 12-0 victory against Western in a Southern Section Division V playoff game Friday night at Cal State Fullerton.

Running back David Bedard gained 75 yards and scored one touchdown in 23 carries and Marvin Smith’s 15-yard return of a fumble enabled Servite (9-2) to reach the second round. The Friars will play Villa Park, a 43-21 winner over Corona del Mar, next week.

Injuries and the inability to take advantage of the few scoring opportunities it had sent Western (7-3-1) home a loser.

“We didn’t embarrass ourselves,” Western Coach Jim Howell said. “But we didn’t do everything we could. We played hard, but couldn’t get anything going consistently on offense. But they’re a good team. We were competitive, but just not good enough.”

“I knew they would be physical,” Servite Coach Larry Toner said after Western stopped the Friars twice inside the 10-yard line on fourth-down plays in the first quarter. “They were the first team all year, maybe in years, to stop us at the goal line.

“When you lose your starting quarterback like they did, it’s difficult to keep your team’s belief system going. But they did.”

The Pioneers, a wild-card entry from the Orange League, came into the game an injured team. The biggest loss was starting quarterback Dean Chambers, who sustained a torn knee ligament in a 24-7 loss to Valencia three weeks ago. Western’s hopes were in the hands of sophomore Jimmy Conway, making only his second start on Friday.

Conway had a hard time throwing the ball, getting sacked twice and completing six of 23 passes for 120 yards.

Western was hurt by three fumbles, two of which it lost, and one interception.

On Servite’s first two possessions--one set up on a blocked punt by Jeff Cortese, who had another block in the second quarter--the Friars got inside the Western 10, only to have the drives stopped on fourth down plays.

But the Friars dominated the second quarter, driving 80 yards in 18 plays to score. Bedard got the touchdown on a one-yard plunge. The extra point was missed.

Western had two opportunities to score. The Pioneers attempted a 51-yard field goal in the first half but Bryant Zant’s kick hooked wide left. And toward the end of the half, Josh Burdett ran to the Servite 15, but fumbled and Friar linebacker Tony McCanta recovered.