Servite 36 - Eagles 16
Friars win Trinity title
Klein throws three TD passes as Servite puts itself in position for a home playoff game.
MISSION VIEJO, CA., November 10, 2006 – Most Trinity League followers were expecting a slugfest when Servite hooked up with Santa Margarita in the regular-season finale on Friday night at Saddleback College.
It was a slugfest, but the Friars ended up doing all of the slugging.
Senior quarterback Daniel Klein completed 14 of 15 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 7 Servite to a 36-16 victory over No. 2 Santa Margarita.
The Friars (7-3, 4-1) end up as co-league champions with Orange Lutheran (9-1, 4-1), but they will go as the league's No. 1 representative in the Pac-5 playoffs because they beat the Lancers, 28-21, in the league opener Oct. 12.
The Lancers take the No. 2 spot, Santa Margarita (8-2, 3-2) goes as the No. 3 and Mater Dei (8-2, 3-2) will probably get the Pac-5's lone at-large berth.
“We've been talking about the Class of '07 senior year for so long ever since our freshmen year," Servite's star linebacker/running back Chris Galippo said. "(We've been) back-to-back Serra League champions, and, now, Trinity League champions. People said you couldn't go undefeated in this league, and they were right, but we came darn close."
The Friars put themselves in position for a home game in the opening round of the playoffs, which could be important in the ultra-competitive Pac-5.
"I think without a doubt we are the most physical, toughest team in this league," said Galippo, who caught a touchdown pass, rushed for a touchdown and dominated on defense. "We're looking forward to the playoffs."
It looked like Santa Margarita would make a game of it early on.
The Eagles had a great defensive series to start the game and took over at midfield for their first offensive series. Eric Reisinger completed an 18-yard pass to Ryan Maxwell on third-and-10 to keep the drive alive. Then Chris Spangenberg broke a 16-yard run. Two plays later, Reisinger rolled left and connected with Nick Pizzurro for a 7-yard touchdown. Servite blocked the extra-point attempt, but the Eagles had a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
Galippo said the Friars believed they had a lot to prove coming off last week's 28-22 overtime loss to Mater Dei.
The Friars made their point, responding to Santa Margarita's initial score with 22 consecutive points.
Santa Margarita was probably expecting Servite to play a smash-mouth brand of football, but Klein gave the Eagles fits with his shovel passes and play-action fakes.
Klein's first touchdown was a 29-yarder to Galippo on Servite's second possession.
On Servite's next possession, Klein faked to his tailback that caused the entire Eagles' defense to bite. That left Andrew Ostergaard wide open down field and Klein nailed him for a 51-yard touchdown and a 14-6 lead with 9:51 left in the half.
Later in the half, Klein hooked up with Matt Franchino for a 49-yard touchdown play. Santa Margarita's Eric Manarino came inches from picking off the pass, but when his diving attempt came up short there was nobody left to stop Franchino from going all the way. Galippo took a quick snap and scored the two-point conversion to make it 22-6 with 2:34 left in the half.
Santa Margarita put together a solid drive to close out the half, but it stalled at Servite's 3-yard line and the Eagles had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Rob Maniaci.
Any momentum the Eagles might have had to start the second half ended quickly when Servite's Austin Niklas picked off Reisinger on the third play of the third quarter.
Servite's defense, which forced two turnovers, got three sacks and one interception, continued to give the offense great field position.
The Friars started their second possession of the second half at Santa Margarita's 48-yard line. Galippo got a 28-yard run. Two plays later, Galippo and Matt Kalil delivered crunching blocks that freed Jake Welch to score on a 16-yard run to push the lead to 29-9.
The Friars delivered one final blow in the form of an 11-play, 91-yard drive that stretched from the third quarter into the fourth and chewed up nearly six minutes off the clock. Once again, it was Galippo on the finish with a bruising 22-yard touchdown run to give Servite a 36-9 advantage.
The Eagles put together one more drive in the fourth quarter with Reisinger connecting with Stephen Sales on a 3-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 36-16 with 4:40 left. They never threatened again.
| Servite | 7 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 36 |
| Santa Margarita | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
SM – Pizzurro 7 pass from Reisinger (kick blocked)
SER – Galippo 29 pass from Klein (Goessling kick)
SER – Ostergaard 51 pass from Klein (Goessling kick)
SER – Franchino 49 pass from Klein (Galippo run)
SM – Maniaci 21 FG
SER – Welch 16 run (Goessling kick)
SER – Galippo 22 run (Goessling kick)
SM – Sales 3 pass from Reisinger (Maniaci kick)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: SM - Spangenberg 13-34, Audagnotti 6-22; Ser - Galippo 5-57, Welch 7-51
Passing: SM - Reisinger 15-28-1-177; Ser - Klein 14-15-0-209
Receiving: SM - Maxwell 8-76, Dialynas 1-46; Ser - Ostergaard 2-85, Franchino 2-59
Records: Servite 4-1, 7-3; SM 3-2, 8-2
By Carlos Arias
Saturday, November 11, 2006
The Orange County Register - Varsity 1
