Servite 38 - Eagles 27
MISSION VIEJO, CA., September 27, 1996 – Game three matched the #3 and #8 ranked teams in Orange County as well as two competitive Catholic schools. The Friars took a 12-0 lead right off the bat, and the deficit seemed to affect the Eagles throughout the first half. A Servite fumble opened the door, however, as SM capitalized to cut the lead to 12-7. Servite countered with 19 more points by halftime to take a 31-14 lead. Behind Billy Newman’s 161 yards rushing, SM mounted a comeback. Carson Palmer also played well throwing TD scores to John Minardi, Brett Crowder and Matt Brooks.
| Servite | 12 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
SER – Reed 3 run (kick failed)
SER – Reed 1 run (pass failed)
SM – Newman 3 run (Sparks kick)
SER – Reed 4 run (Reed pass from Cicero)
SER – Reed 3 run (Bystedt pass from Cicero)
SM – Minardi 44 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SER – FG Mokler 22
SM – Crowder 14 pass from Palmer (Sparks kick)
SER – Ward 39 pass from Cicero (Mokler kick)
SM – Brooks 29 pass from Palmer (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Ser - Reed 16-71, Cambay 9-55; SM - Newman 22-172, Palmer 7-60
Passing: Ser - Cicero 14-22-0-242; SM - Palmer 12-30-2-151
Receiving: Ser - Ward 6-115, Rodriguez 4-77; SM - Minardi 3-69, Crowder 2-32
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Servite slips past Santa Margarita.
Cicero passes for 242 yards and a touchdown to lead the Friars past the Eagles, 38-27.
MISSION VIEJO – Servite was considered the preseason favorite to win the CIF Southern Section Division V championship.
After three weeks, the Friars have done little to change that thinking.
Servite, ranked No. 1 in Division V, beat fourth-ranked Santa Margarita, 38-27, in front of a standing-room-only crowd of around 8,000 at Saddleback College on Friday night.
The Friars (3-0), ranked third in Orange County, displayed plenty of offensive firepower, led by senior quarterback Greg Cicero's 242 yards passing. He completed 14 of 22 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Junior running back Vince Reed rushed for 69 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, but he was slowed by leg cramps in the second half and finished with 71 yards.
Santa Margarita senior Billy Newman, who went into this week as Orange County's leading rusher, went for 172 yards and one touchdown on 22 attempts.
Servite's always large and vocal fan following was jubilant after the game. But Friars coach Larry Toner was less than thrilled that his team faltered in the second half for the second consecutive week.
“We've got a lot of work to do," he said.
Cicero went to work early, completing his first six passes as he quickly drove the Friars down field on their first two possessions, both of which ended on touchdown runs by Reed for a 12-O lead just 4:37 into the game.
The Eagles (2-1), ranked eighth in the county, soon cut the lead to five, 12-7, but Servite regained control and was never seriously threatened.
By Steve Fryer
Saturday, September 28, 1996
The Orange County Register - Sports 1
