Servite, El Toro Rack Up Some Impressive Numbers

The numbers were fairly staggering from Servite’s 47-34 victory over El Toro in a second-round rematch of last year’s Division V title game.

The teams combined for 1,078 yards, 555 for Servite, 523 for El Toro.

In all, Servite had nine plays of 20 yards or more, El Toro eight. By comparison, Tustin (nine) and Loara also combined for 17 plays of 20 yards or more in Tustin’s 60-45 victory, but their yardage was only 986.

Greg Cicero’s 435-yard passing performance for Servite was the county’s fifth-best all-time, and Steve Ward’s 282 yards receiving (on nine catches, three for touchdowns) was fourth best, and the highest since 1987. Most of Ward’s total came after catching 10- to 15-yard passes over the middle; it far surpassed the school-record 205 yards he set in a 76-0 victory over Santa Ana. And, given the circumstances, it’s much more credible as a school record.

El Toro’s Mike Strand, who began the year on the bench, threw for 319 yards. Strand, in his final game, finally became eligible to qualify for the county’s statistical leaders; so, the sophomore quarterback went from not being listed to reaching No. 5. He completed 66.9% of his passes with 11 TDs and three interceptions.

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Irvine girls are the county record-holders for most consecutive appearances in the state cross-country meet; they’ve been to seven in a row. Their sixth-place finish over the weekend was their worst in that span.

El Modena’s girls are right behind; they have been to six straight, and their second-place finish was their highest..

St. Margaret’s junior Ryan Downey, the county’s only individual state champion, won the first Division V title. He was 13th last year in the larger Division IV race.

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Also contributing to this report was correspondent Matt Farmer.