Servite Gives Damien a Lesson in Rushing

Paced by a dominating running game that gained nearly 300 yards, Servite rolled to a 33-12 victory over La Verne Damien Friday night.

The senior running back tandem of Lamar Mason and Justin Domineck gained most of the yardage, Mason rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns, Domineck for 125 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Adam Ernst added two rushing touchdowns for the Friars.

The Servite defense, meanwhile, made the big plays when it had to, including a goal-line stand early in the second half, when Damien was unable to punch the ball into the end zone on four tries inside the three-yard line.

Damien scored on its first possession. Senior running back Kevin Clark, who gained 143 yards, capped a seven-play, 67-yard drive with an 18-yard run up the middle. Servite responded early in the second quarter, when Domineck bulled through the middle for a five-yard scoring run. The extra point made the score 7-6.

Late in the first half, Ernst scored on a 21-yard run around left end. The extra point went left and Servite led, 13-6, at the half.

Mason, who gained only 28 yards in the first half, sprang to life in the second. On Servite’s first possession, he carried the ball twice, gaining 70 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown to give Servite a 19-6 lead. Damien quarterback Jordan Swaydan, who completed only eight of 23 passes for 74 yards, pulled the Spartans to 19-12 early in the fourth quarter with a 19-yard rushing touchdown.

That was the closest Damien would get. Servite needed only four plays to score again. Domineck set up Mason’s 22-yard run by gaining 40 yards in three carries.

Linebacker Joe Cicero’s interception on Damien’s next possession set up Servite’s final score, a one-yard plunge by Ernst.