Servite Rallies in Second Half to Beat Fountain Valley, 28-17

When you set out to move a mountain, sometimes dirt gets in your face along the way.

But the Servite football team rose from a mucky first half, brushed themselves off and rallied to defeat Fountain Valley, 28-17, in front of 5,000 at Huntington Beach High School.

Servite, ranked No. 3 in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll and No. 1 in Southern Section Division V, improved to 4-0.

Servite trailed, 17-7, at the end of the third quarter but Danny Rubalcava scored on a 24-yard run--which came after Fountain Valley lost a fumble late in the third quarter--to bring the Friars within a touchdown with 11 minutes, 51 seconds to play.

Quarterback Mike Lamar was sacked on the Barons’ next possession and Baron kicker Nathan Hanson punted from the Baron 45-yard line.

Servite set up at the 30-yard line after Nick Rodriguez returned the punt 10 yards and Fountain Valley was docked for a personal foul. Servite quarterback Greg Cicero then marched the Friars 61 yards--including a 25-yard pass play to Steven Ward--before passing to Vince Reed for a nine-yard touchdown and a 21-17 lead.

On Fountain Valley’s next possession, Servite’s Alvan Loreto intercepted a pass from Lamar at the Baron 40-yard line.

Rubalcava gained 37 yards on two carries before Reed scored on a three-yard run with 1:09 remaining to put the game out of reach.

With the hard-fought victory, the Friars proved once again that they are worthy of the praise they received in the preseason, when they were called one of the best Servite squads assembled in some time.

And they are not squandering their talent against unfit opponents. Their first three victories were over sixth-ranked Esperanza, Irvine, and ninth-ranked Santa Margarita.

Against the No. 10 Barons, the Friars lost two key players in the first quarter. Two-way lineman Zack LaMonda, an all-league selection last year, left the field with a leg cramp and offensive lineman Jesse Day also injured his leg. Servite Coach Larry Toner said the Barons were the toughest team the Friars have played this season.

“No question. Coach [George] Berg always has them well prepared. They are a very physical team,” Toner said.

The game was important for Fountain Valley (3-1), which soon begins its quest to challenge Los Alamitos and Esperanza for the Sunset League title. Fountain Valley will face Santa Margarita next week.

For Servite, the mountain only gets steeper: next week it hosts top-ranked Mater Dei.