Slumping Servite Rebounds With Win

Servite stopped a three-game losing streak with a 37-20 victory over Westminster Thursday in the Golden West League opener for both teams.

Servite (2-4, 1-0) has never lost a Golden West League game since joining the league in 1994, and the Lions (1-5, 0-1) didn’t figure to be the team to end that streak. But the Lions showed some character, closing a 30-7 deficit to 30-20 in the fourth quarter and stopping the Friars on fourth down twice in the final four minutes of the game.

“We’re improving every week,” Westminster coach Ted McMillen said. “It’s just another step up. It’s the first time we’ve played all four quarters hard. Now we’ve got three important games coming up.”

The game was a showcase for a pair of senior running backs, Vince Reed of Servite and Westminster’s Erick Arthur, both of whom rushed for 149 yards.

Reed ran for three touchdowns, including a 15-yard sprint around end for one score and a seven-yard charge through the middle for another.

Arthur created a one-play touchdown drive in the second quarter, going 80 yards for a score. He added a 62-yard run up the middle for another touchdown in the fourth quarter and also caught a 46-yard touchdown pass.

Servite built a 24-7 halftime lead on the strength of two Reed scores and a 39-yard scoring pass from Dan Petropolus to Jeff Arthur. The Friars increased the margin to 30-7 in the third quarter after a Lion fumble set up Reed’s third touchdown of the night.

Westminster scored on its next two possessions to make it close, but the next two times the Lions got the ball was on their one-yard line.

The Friars finished the game with a bizarre touchdown when Arthur fumbled at the one. The ball was batted around and finally picked up by Doug Warren, who took it in for the score.