Mater Dei Uses Turnovers to Rout Servite

A near-capacity crowd filled Santa Ana Stadium on Saturday night, expecting to get a glimpse of the tight Serra League race.

Instead, the 9,000 or so spectators witnessed two teams heading in opposite directions.

Santa Ana Mater Dei forced five turnovers by Anaheim Servite and quarterback Jason Forcier rushed for 133 yards and two long touchdowns to lead the Monarchs to a 35-7 victory over the Friars, ranked No. 15 in the Southland by The Times.

Forcier said the one-sided victory was the result of an energetic week of practice.

“Our coach said it’s the most intense we’ve ever been,” he said.

With its fifth victory in the last six games, Mater Dei (5-4, 3-1), which fell out of The Times’ rankings following a double-overtime loss to Los Angeles Loyola two weeks ago, moved into a tie for first place with the Cubs in league play. The Monarchs will close the regular season Thursday against Santa Margarita at Saddleback College.

Servite (6-3, 1-3) has not won a game since quarterback Mike Lawrence suffered a season-ending broken thumb in the Friars’ league opener against Loyola.

Servite sophomore running back Ken Ashley was also slowed by an ankle injury suffered last week in a loss to Santa Margarita. Ashley was limited to six yards in three carries. Wide receiver Shamus Flynn, knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury, would not blame injuries for the team’s problems, however.

“Turnovers have messed us up,” he said.

Andrew Simmons led the Monarchs’ defense, making an interception, a sack and fumble recovery.

-- Dan Arritt

Roosevelt 33, Garfield 0 -- It was a classic in name only as the teams combined for 13 turnovers and Roosevelt registered a lopsided victory in the East L.A. Classic before an estimated 12,000 at the Coliseum.

The Roughriders’ margin of victory in the Eastern League game was the most since a 41-0 victory in 2000.

Roosevelt (6-3, 3-1) scored four of its five touchdowns following Garfield turnovers in winning its fourth consecutive game in the series and its fifth in six years. Garfield (3-6, 1-3) had six passes intercepted and lost three fumbles.

Chris Hurtado rushed for 90 yards in 14 carries and scored a touchdown for the Roughriders, who gained 236 of their 261 yards on the ground. Omar Chavira rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Luis Gomez added 40 yards and a score.

Garfield’s best scoring opportunity came late in the second quarter, when the Bulldogs reached Roosevelt’s 10-yard line.

Roosevelt, which committed four turnovers and was penalized 21 times for 178 yards, took command with a 19-point second quarter.

-- Ben Bolch

Serrano 30, Rim of the World 29 -- Taylor Walker caught a short touchdown pass from Carl Uhl with 41 seconds left to lift Serrano (8-1, 3-0) in a Mojave River League game.