Servite 35 - EAGLES 34
Friars claim share of Serra title
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 11, 2005 – The Eagles rallied from a two touchdown deficit behind John Angelo's record-tying four touchdown. Unfortunately the Eagles fell 35-34 when a two-point conversion pass from Jon Daniels to Nick Pizzurro ailed with 0:26 remaining.
A season after going 0 for 5 in the Serra League, Servite stormed to a co-league title with a dramatic 35-34 victory against 10th-ranked Santa Margarita at Saddleback College. The Friars (7-3, 4-1) share the league crown with Mater Dei (6-4, 4-1), which fell Friday to Bishop Amat of La Puente, 28-7.
Santa Margarita (5-5, 2-3) cut the Friars’ lead to 35-34 with 26 seconds left on Nick Pizzurro’s 7-yard touchdown reception from Jon Daniels. The Eagles called timeout and went for a two-point conversion and the victory. But Daniels’ pass intended for Ryan Maxwell sailed out of the end zone and the Friars had their first league title since 1998. Cornerback Micky Moses had tight coverage on the play. “It’s a big deal for us, especially these seniors,” first-year Servite coach Troy Thomas said. “It’s a tribute to the senior class.” The coach said the seniors entered the season having not won a league game at any level. A few juniors and a sophomore weren’t bad for the Friars either.
Servite junior quarterback Dan Klein scored on a 1-yard sneak on a third-and-goal with 1:49 left as Servite took a 35-28 lead. It was Klein’s second rushing TD and he finished with a team-high 105 yards rushing. Servite sophomore Dennis Shoemate helped set up the go-ahead score with a 28-yard reception to the Eagles 30 on a third-and-14 play. On the first play on the drive, Servite almost lost a fumble at its 46 but offensive lineman Sean Fryer scooped up the ball. Servite will be the league’s No.2 entry for the playoffs because it lost to Mater Dei.
After Santa Margarita’s failed two-point conversion, Shoemate capped a breakout performance by leaping to recover the onside kick and running about 35 yards to Eagles 14, where the Friars ran out the clock. Shoemate rushed for three touchdowns, caught six passes for 73 yards and recorded two sacks.
The Serra League plays overtime but Santa Margarita coach Mike Jacot felt his team had the momentum to score. “That’s the whole point, you go for it,” he said. “We took our shot when we had it.” Santa Margarita finished in a three-way tie for third in the league with Loyola of Los Angeles and Bishop Amat. A coin flip conducted after the game placed Loyola as the third-place team, Santa Margarita fourth and Bishop Amat fifth. Santa Margarita will apply for one of the two at-large berths in the Division I playoffs.
| Servite | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Santa Margarita | 7 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 34 |
SM – Angelo 80 run (Reisinger kick)
SER – Shoemate 1 run (Goessling kick)
SM – Angelo 3 run (Reisinger kick)
SER – Shoemate 55 run (Goessling kick)
SER – Shoemate 2 run (Goessling kick)
SER – Klein 1 run (Goessling kick)
SM – Angelo 36 run (kick failed)
SM – Angelo 2 run (Pizzurro pass from Daniels)
SER – Klein 1 run (Goessling kick)
SM – Pizzurro 7 pass from Daniels (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SER - Klein, 19-105, Shoemate, 8-76;
SM - Angelo, 19-161, Daniels, 9-36
Passing: SER - Klein, 14-19-1-160;
SM - Daniels, 10-17-1-119
Receiving: SER - Shoemate, 6-73, Rangel, 3-31; SM - Gordon, 4-67, Plante, 2-28
By Dan Albano
Saturday, November 12, 2005
The Orange County Register - Varsity 1
