Servite 31 - Eagles 27
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 12, 1999 – Adam Ernst's 5-yard run with 10 seconds left lifted the Servite Friars to an exciting 31-27 win over the Eagles before 6,000 at Saddleback College. Although the outcome put both teams at 6-4 overall and in a three-way tie with St. John Bosco at 1-2 in league play the Eagles won an "odd-man-in" coin flip for the Serra League's second guaranteed playoff entry for their 10th trip to the playoffs in 11 years. After Servite opened with a quick score the Eagles needed only one play to score themselves as junior QB Matt Dlugolecki hit former QB turned WR Chris Rix on a go route for a 69-yard touchdown and a 7-6 lead. Justin Domineck's three-yard run at the 10:40 mark of the second quarter put the Friars up 12-6, but another Dlugolecki-to-Rix score, this time from 40 yards out at the 8:24 mark of the second quarter, put the Eagles ahead 14-12. A Steve Ayers field goal from 45 yards out gave the Friars a 15-14 halftime lead. Rix's third touchdown on an eight-yard run at the 11:53 mark of the fourth quarter gave the Eagles a 20-15 lead, but Servite responded with 13-play drive finished off by Chad Bystedt two-yard run with 5:55 left to give the Friars a 23-20 lead. The Eagles then marched 66 yards on seven plays capped by Jimmy Herzog's two-yard run with 2:56 left to put Santa Margarita in front 27-23. Servite then went 65 yards on eight plays capped by Ernst's touchdown to seal their victory. Rix has an outstanding all around game as he caught five passes for 186 yards and led the team with 41 yards rushing on only three carries. Dlugolecki completed nine of 17 passes for 215 yards and two scores in his first full game of the season. Defensively, senior LB Matt Szkalak posted a career-high 22 tackles - the second most in school history - to lead the defensive effort while junior LB Matt Vogel added in a career-high 15 tackles.
| Servite | 6 | 9 | 0 | 16 | 31 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
SER – Mason 51 run (kick failed)
SM – Rix 69 pass from Dlugolecki (Doomey kick)
SER – Domineck 3 run (pass failed)
SM – Rix 40 pass from Dlugolecki (Doomey kick)
SER – FG Ayers 44
SM – Rix 8 run (pass failed)
SER – Bystedt 2 run (Ernst run)
SM – Herzog 2 run (Doomey kick)
SM – Ernst 5 run (Ernst run)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Ser - Mason 16-143, Bystedt 14-77; SM - Thompson 6-22, Rix 3-10
Passing: Ser - Emst 5-11-0-66; SM - Dlugolecki 9-18-1-217
Receiving: Ser - Bystedt 5-66; SM - Rix 5-186, Schmit 2-18
By Adrian Peters
Sports Information Director
Servite survives mistakes, wins
MISSION VIEJO – Servite overcame a little bit of everything Friday night at Saddleback College to edge Santa Margarita, 31-27, and keep its playoff hopes alive.
The Friars (6-4, 1-2) overcame Chris Rix the receiver, who had five receptions for 186 yards, including touchdowns of 69 and 40 yards.
Servite overcame a key fumble in the fourth quarter that Santa Margarita (6-4, 1-2) turned into six points.
The Friars even overcame themselves much of the night. Servite committed 11 penalties for 111 yards. Servite was even called for two penalties on their final drive, which it started at its own 35 with 2:56 left. But Servite got back on track and won the game on Adam Ernst's 5-yard touchdown run with 10 seconds left. The junior quarterback also ran in the two-point conversion to give the Friars a 31-27 lead.
"We didn't give up," said Ernst, who made several big plays on Servite's final drive.
The only thing Servite didn't win on the night was the three-way coin flip for second-place held just minutes after the end of the game (St. John Bosco also finished the Serra League 1-2. Santa Margarita won the flip to earn the league's second-place entry for the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
"Lucky for us we won the coin flip," Santa Margarita coach Jim Hartigan said.
Servite athletic director Larry Walker believes the Friars have a good chance at receiving one of the Division I's three at-large berths.
"Because we beat Santa Margarita," Walker said.
Servite needed its final drive to do it. The biggest play of the drive was Ernst's 15-yard scramble on 3rd-and-15 for a first down at Servite's 45 with just under two minutes left. Ernst dove for the final yards.
"I saw the pocket collapsing," he said.
Ernst threw three consecutive quick outs to Chad Bystedt to move the ball to the Eagles 10. A defensive pass interference penalty put the ball on the Eagles 5 with 15 seconds left.
As impressive as the Friars' final drive turned out, Ernst found Rix afterward and offered a handshake.
"The guy is big time," Ernst said.
By Dan Albano
Saturday, November 13, 1999
The Orange County Register - D12
