Servite Shows Off Its Strength

After taking center stage with its gutsy performance against Santa Ana Mater Dei a week ago, Orange Lutheran High was lured back into the shadows Thursday by an Anaheim Servite team that showcased a bevy of playmakers and dominated every facet of the game.

The Friars, No. 22 in The Times’ rankings, converted 10 of 12 third downs and limited the Lancers to one field goal in four possessions inside the Servite 15-yard line during a 34-3 nonleague victory at Brea Olinda High.

Ryan Coffelt was the statistical leader for the Friars (2-0), completing eight of 11 passes for 172 yards, but he was hardly the only standout for an offense that amassed 382 yards. Chris Blanco led the rushing attack with 75 yards in 15 carries, Joel Rubalcaba added 52 yards in 10 carries and Dillon Bedard had 39 yards in eight carries, including touchdown runs of one and seven yards.

“Just give Servite all the credit,” said Lutheran Coach Jim Kunau, whose team committed three turnovers. “They did a great job of ball control all night long.”

The Lancers (0-2) had a chance to take the lead during their opening possession after quarterback Casey Whieldon scrambled 38 yards to the Friar five to give Lutheran a first and goal. But two plays later, Whieldon fumbled the ball. Servite then drove 95 yards for a touchdown on Bedard’s one-yard run.

By the time Lutheran got back inside the Servite 10, the Friars led, 28-3.

The Friars had their share of defensive standouts. Defensive back Darryl Williams made two touchdown-saving tackles and defensive back Chris Bibolet made a one-handed interception of a Seth Blackamore pass in the end zone.

It was quite a contrast from the Lancers’ opener, in which they suffered a 21-20 defeat after a Mater Dei defender knocked away a late two-point conversion attempt.

Ben Bolch

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Thousand Oaks 30, Ventura Buena 14--Chris Owens completed 14 of 19 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the Lancers’ nonleague victory at Ventura High.

Owens, a junior transfer from Simi Valley Grace Brethren who was making his second start in place of injured Brad Sievert, threw touchdown passes of 38 yards to Shawn Love and 23 yards to Corey Mazza.

The scoring pass to Love came after the ball was tipped by Buena defensive back Cory Ford and gave Thousand Oaks (2-0) a 20-14 lead with 43 seconds left in the second quarter. The touchdown pass to Mazza extended the Lancers’ advantage to 27-14.

Ryan Sandlin rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in 27 carries for Thousand Oaks.

Alex Garfio of Buena (1-1) was held to 86 yards in 22 carries after rushing for 252 yards and three touchdowns in a season opening victory against Agoura.

John Ortega

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La Verne Damien 24, Rancho Cucamonga 22--Daniel Venti scored a touchdown with 1:25 left in the game and the Damien defense had two interceptions after that to seal the nonleague victory at Chaffey College.

Venti rushed for 93 yards in 12 carries and Ian Johnson had 76 yards and a touchdown in 16 carries for Damien (2-0), which lost quarterback Nick Davila in the first half with an apparent broken right clavicle.

Rancho Cucamonga (0-1-1) had a 22-12 lead early in the third quarter.

Josh Kleinbaum