Servite Gets Blue-Collar Victory Over Villa Park

Servite didn’t pile up many style points in defeating Villa Park, 22-14, in the second round of the Division VI playoffs at El Modena High Friday night. The Friars relied on a mechanical, straight-ahead style that was similar to a bulldozer clearing a field.

“Nothing glorious, we just played smash mouth,” Servite Coach Larry Toner said. “We won the battle of the clock and that’s what we needed because they are a very talented football team.”

Servite (7-5), which advanced to play top-seeded Woodbridge in the semifinals next Saturday, built a 13-0 halftime lead while holding the Spartans to 32 total yards and one first down.

Villa Park (5-6-1) twice pulled within a touchdown in the second half, but each time Servite did what was needed to keep Villa Park at arm’s length.

“They were physical and we weren’t able to run the ball much, in the first half particularly, and that’s our style,” Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney said.

Dache Dameron, who had rushed for more than 200 yards in Villa Park’s previous playoff victories over Canyon and El Dorado, had only 13 yards in nine carries before he broke loose on a 32-yard run midway through the third quarter. Dameron finished with 49 yards in 12 carries.

Dallas Dapper’s eight-yard touchdown reception cut Servite’s lead to 13-6 with 4 minutes 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

After Mike Lambert’s 20-yard field goal put the Friars back up by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, Matt Gogan increased the lead to 22-6 on his five-yard touchdown run with 5:46 remaining. Gogan rushed for 140 yards in 30 carries.

Villa Park used a trick play to cut the lead to 22-14 with 4:02 remaining. Quarterback John Henry Jackson threw a backward lateral to wide receiver Bryan Arguello, who then threw to Dapper for a 39-yard touchdown. Arguello followed with a two-point reception.

Villa Park got the ball back with just under a minute remaining and advanced to midfield, but Curtis Bibolet’s second interception of the game with 14 seconds remaining sealed the victory.