Shoemate does it all in Servite’s 28-13 win

What D.J. Shoemate of Anaheim Servite pulled off Friday night against unbeaten Orange Lutheran in front of more than 8,000 fans at Cal State Fullerton will be long remembered for its absolute dominance.

Given the ball again and again, the USC-bound Shoemate responded with 242 yards rushing in a career-high 36 carries and scored three touchdowns to power Servite past the Lancers, 28-13, in a Trinity League game.

“He was just phenomenal,” Orange Lutheran Coach Jim Kunau said. “He was just unbelievable all night.”

Even more dramatic and memorable was Shoemate’s all-out rush of Orange Lutheran quarterback Blake Hyepock with 9:58 left in a 7-7 game.

He blindsided Hyepock, knocked the ball in the air, caught it and was tackled at the Lancers’ seven-yard line. He ran it in for a touchdown on the next play, and Orange Lutheran, ranked third in the Southland by The Times, seemingly collapsed, beaten up and worn out by Shoemate.

Next came a 24-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Anthony Hannon, then a 55-yard touchdown run by Shoemate for a 28-7 Servite lead.

Orange Lutheran (6-1, 1-1) had won 15 consecutive games since its last loss, 28-21, in double overtime to Servite a year ago. Shoemate didn’t play in that game, as he was still nursing a broken foot.

Now 100% healthy and full of stamina, Shoemate has become the go-to player for the 11th-ranked Friars (6-1, 2-0). It was only two weeks ago that Servite lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 17-7, and Coach Troy Thomas changed his team’s offensive focus, making Shoemate a full-time running back.

He carried the ball 31 times for 184 yards last week in a victory over Santa Margarita. And it was Shoemate going left, right and up the middle against the Lancers on Friday. He also caught a pass one-handed on fourth down to pick up a crucial first down and completed a 51-yard pass that was nullified because of a penalty.

“When he was a sophomore, I didn’t just think he was the best sophomore,” Kunau said. “He was the best player.”

Shoemate hardly looked tired afterward and said he was ready for 40 carries next week if that’s what the coaches want.

“The coaches are getting us ready physically, mentally and emotionally,” he said.

Hyepock completed 22 of 30 passes for 248 yards for Orange Lutheran, which had four players leave the game because of injuries.

The game started with a perfectly executed 79-yard, 13-play drive by Servite, which featured all running plays and consumed almost seven minutes. Shoemate scored on a one-yard touchdown run on fourth down.

Orange Lutheran tied the score at 7-7 with 9:58 left in the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Tyson Seneca. There was no more scoring in the first half, with the defenses firmly in control until Shoemate took charge in the fourth quarter.

--

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com