Playoff Run-Up Lifts Servite

After trouncing five Golden West League opponents by the lopsided margin of 265-68, Servite was accused of running up the score just to make itself look good.

The Friars’ response: We’re just trying to get ready for the playoffs.

You can debate the tactics, but the objective was successful. Servite, led by quarterback Greg Cicero’s 285 passing yards and three touchdowns, had no trouble defeating Western, 50-7, in the first round of the Southern Section Division V playoffs Friday night at Cal State Fullerton.

Cicero completed 17 of 19 passes in about 2 1/2 quarters. He also ran for a touchdown. Steve Ward caught six passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the Friars (10-1), who will play the winner of today’s El Dorado-El Toro game in the second round.

Western, which resembled many of the Golden West League teams that Servite crushed, was outmatched. And when quarterback Jim Conway left the game early in the second quarter with an injury to his left ankle after being sacked, the Pioneer offense struggled even more.

Conway returned for the second half and was sacked twice on Western’s first possession. He finished with 38 yards passing and was sacked six times.

Western’s only bright spot was 99 yards rushing in 13 carries by Sergio Garcia.

“We were just so sloppy with turnovers,” Western Coach Toby Howell said. “Maybe if we hadn’t been so sloppy, this would have been a more competitive game.”

Servite had a 36-0 third-quarter lead when Coach Larry Toner put in the second string on both sides of the ball. Western’s 93-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 57-yard run by Garcia, came against the Friars’ second string.

Earlier Western had made the job easier for Servite’s first-team defense, which was solid, but not spectacular. After forcing Servite to punt on the game’s opening possession, Western fumbled on its first offensive play and Servite recovered at the Western 20.

Three plays later fullback Danny Rubalcava scored from three yards and Servite led, 7-0.

Western got the ball back and promptly gave up a safety on a bad snap during a punt attempt.

Servite took the free kick and drove 47 yards in four plays, with Cicero passing 13 yards to tight end Chris Bystedt for a 16-0 lead.

Western got to the Servite 14-yard line on its next drive, but the Pioneers were called for an illegal block and then a series of losses took them out of field-goal range.

After a Western punt, Cicero passed 55 yards to Ward for a score, and then with one minute left in the half Cicero capped a 94-yard, three-play drive with a 13-yard scoring pass to Bystedt.