Servite to Face Tustin Without Key Players

Anaheim Servite will play former Golden West League rival Tustin tonight at Tustin High, but the Friars will be without three key offensive players who were injured in last week’s 26-22 victory over Orange Lutheran.

Starting fullback Joel Rubulcaba will be out three to four weeks because of an ankle sprain. Starting tight end Ryan Hemphill injured his knee and is waiting MRI results, and running back Marcus Veyna is waiting for swelling to decrease in his knee before getting an MRI, Servite Coach Larry Toner said Thursday.

Veyna, a senior, shared time with junior running back Chris Blanco, who rushed for 119 yards in 25 carries against Orange Lutheran. Rubulcaba had proved to be a valuable piece of Servite’s offense, scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run and catching a pass for a 44-yard gain before he was injured late in the first quarter.

“I teach my kids never to stand around,” Toner said. “All three of them were injured while they were standing around. I hadn’t had a knee injury in six years before [last] Thursday night.”