Servite looks impressive in opener

Defending Pac-5 Division champion Anaheim Servite sent a message Thursday in its season opener against Oceanside that the toughness and intensity seen during its 2009 championship season are back.

The Friars forced four first-half turnovers and six overall in rolling to a 31-7 victory over Oceanside at Orange Coast College. It was the first time two defending state bowl winners had met in a season opener, with Oceanside having won the Division I bowl and Servite the Division II champion.

But Oceanside, which had a 39-game unbeaten streak come to an end, was hit hard by graduation, and Servite returns many important contributors on defense, particularly linebackers Matthew Inman and Butch Pauu, who were busy disrupting Oceanside’s offense to give Servite a 17-0 halftime lead.

But the most successful defensive player was lineman Jody Thomas, who had two interceptions and a sack, and scooped up a fumble and ran nine yards for a touchdown.

“Obviously, we need to move Jody Thomas to defensive back,” Coach Troy Thomas said. “He’s leading the CIF in interceptions.”

Jordan Jones and Cameron Farrell also had interceptions. Defensive lineman Jherremya Leuta-Douyere stripped the ball from Oceanside quarterback Tofi Pao Pao to set up Thomas’ touchdown and added a sack.

Some Servite fans were a little concerned after the Friars hardly looked energetic or impressive in a scrimmage against Gardena Serra last week. But Thomas treated the scrimmage as if it were a practice, holding out some players and keeping everything low-key.

Thursday was different. Thomas led his players out from the locker room as bagpipes played, then exhorted the crowd and his players. And they responded, setting an example on the opening defensive series.

Pauu dropped Oceanside’s Noah Tarrant for a one-yard loss. Then cornerback Karlton Dennis leveled receiver Brenden Wright, stripping the ball after Wright appeared to make the catch. And Scotty Cooper followed by dropping Jon Ramos for a seven-yard loss on a reverse.

New quarterback Cody Pittman was sharp on Servite’s opening series, picking up 14 yards in three carries and throwing 15 yards to Robert Abeyta for a touchdown. He also passed 17 yards to Pauu for a touchdown.

Pauu later scored on a 17-yard run as the backup quarterback.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com