Malik Felton rushes for 186 yards in Anaheim Servite’s win

Seemingly every time Anaheim Servite needed a big play Friday night in the latter stages of its Trinity League matchup against Bellflower St. John Bosco at Cerritos College, the Friars called upon senior running back Malik Felton. And seemingly every time, Felton answered the call.

Lining up in a variety of spots in the backfield, Felton kept his legs moving and the Braves’ defenders guessing as he rushed for 153 of his 186 yards in the second half and scored his team’s last two touchdowns in a 32-24 victory that kept host Servite tied for first place in the Trinity League and extended the Friars’ winning streak to 18 games.

Servite (7-0, 2-0), ranked No. 3 in the Southland by The Times, has not lost since being defeated by Huntington Beach Edison 23-9 in its fourth game last season.

Quarterback Cody Pittman completed 16 of 21 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown and rushed 13 times for 46 yards, and Sam Hunt caught five passes for 77 yards, including a 36-yard scoring reception from Robert Abeyta on a halfback option that gave the Friars a 9-0 lead with 3:28 left in the first quarter. Cameron Farrell set up the score with an 11-yard interception return.

Daniel Tejeda added seven receptions for 67 yards for Servite, which took a 12-7 lead on a 34-yard field goal by Connor Loftus with 9:17 left in the second quarter that ended an 11-play, 80-yard drive.

Bryce Treggs caught eight passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns and Martin Brown rushed for 121 yards in 22 carries for St. John Bosco (4-3, 0-2), ranked No. 23 by The Times. Raymond Medina completed 18 of 37 passes for 149 yards and Justin Johnson caught six passes for 55 yards.

Sola Hala’s one-yard plunge on fourth and goal gave St. John Bosco its first lead, 14-12, with 1:42 left in the second quarter, completing an eight play, 48-yard drive. It was only the second time Servite has been behind at any time this season. San Juan Capistrano JSerra scored first last week before the Friars reeled off the last 41 points.

It appeared St. John Bosco would carry its lead into halftime, but the Friars drove 80 yards in five plays to regain the lead, 18-14, with 31 seconds left in the second quarter. On third down, Pittman connected with Hunt on a fade down the left sideline for 32 yards to the Braves’ 33-yard line. On the next play, Pittman threw the ball into the end zone, where it was deflected twice before Tejeda caught it while falling on his back.

One play after Karlton Dennis blocked a punt on St. John Bosco’s first drive of the second half, Felton burst 10 yards over right tackle on a misdirection play to extend Servite’s lead to 25-14 with 11:02 left in the third quarter.

The Braves responded with a 12-play, 67-yard drive, capped by Jackson Dionne’s 30-yard field goal that pulled St. John Bosco back within one score, 25-17, with 6:37 left in the third quarter. On Servite’s ensuing possession, Treggs intercepted a tipped Pittman pass and returned it to the Friars’ 48-yard line, but St. John Bosco was unable to pick up a first down.

Felton took a delayed handoff 11 yards untouched into the end zone to extend Servite’s lead to 32-17 with 9:44 left in the fourth quarter.

Treggs caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Medina on fourth-and-goal to pull St. John Bosco closer, 32-24, with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter.

Servite used a time-consuming march to exhaust most of the clock in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, with Felton twice converting third downs into first downs to sustain the drive.

By the time the Braves regained possession, they were backed up to their own 11-yard line with 1:12 left, and a sack on their first play left them with neither the time nor the field position to come up with a game-tying score.

As the final few seconds ticked off, Medina completed a pass over the middle to Johnson, who fumbled intentionally at St. John Bosco’s 19-yard line, hoping to keep the play alive, but two Servite defenders smothered the ball at the 20.

Treggs caught a 13-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds left in the first quarter to pull the Braves within 9-7. Treggs increased his season totals to 38 catches for 673 yards and nine touchdowns.

Servite kept pace with Santa Ana Mater Dei and Santa Margarita atop the league standings. Servite and Mater Dei, ranked No. 21 by The Times, meet next Friday at Angel Stadium.

—Steve Galluzzo

Quick hits

Mark Evans completed 16 of 24 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns as No. 7 St. Bonaventure (6-1, 5-1) routed Marmonte League foe No. 21 Thousand Oaks (4-3, 3-3), 52-0…. No. 18 Tesoro (6-1, 1-0) scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally to a 21-14 victory over Trabuco Hills (4-4, 0-2) in South Coast League play.... Barrinton Collins rushed for 131 yards and four touchdowns as No. 4 Corona Centennial (7-0, 4-0) scored 42 points in the second half of a 69-13 Big VIII League victory over Corona Santiago (2-5, 1-3)…. No. 10 Oaks Christian (5-2, 5-1) scored five touchdowns on defensive turnovers in a 65-0 win over Simi Valley (1-6, 1-5).