NORWALK – It had been foolish to think the win was going to come without some sort of adversity, even if Servite’s 27-point halftime lead appeared insurmountable for Santa Margarita to overcome.
First-year Friars coach Scott Meyer is a quick learner, so he he knew better.
“Nothing’s ever easy in the Trinity League, that’s for sure,” he smirked after the game.
Sixth-ranked Servite forced four first-half turnovers and was able to hang on to the large cushion it had built up before the break, knocking off No. 4 Santa Margarita, 30-20, Friday night in a Trinity League game at Cerritos College.
With just a week remaining in the regular season, the Friars (4-5) are one of three Trinity League teams that have a 2-2 league mark. Friday’s win was particularly important because Servite can finish no lower than fourth place in league, possessing wins over Santa Margarita (5-4, 1-3) and JSerra, who sit below them in the league standings.
Even though it’s just the top three teams in the Trinity League that are rewarded with guaranteed playoff berths, the fourth-place team in the Southern California’s highest-profile league has been awarded an at-large bid in each of the past two seasons.
Servite quarterback Aaron Simpson was at the heart of Friday night’s victory, accounting for all four of the team’s touchdowns. The playmaking senior threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns in addition to running for 43 yards and additional score.
Simpson connected with senior Michael Bandy (106 yards) on scores of 44 and 37 yards. His final touchdown strike of the first half was a short pass to Terrell Bynum that the junior turned into a 50-yard highlight-reel score, putting the Friars ahead 20-0 late in the second quarter.
KJ Costello’s second interception of the first half was also Santa Margarita’s fourth turnover of the opening 24 minutes, which set up Simpson’s 8-yard keeper, making the score 27-0.
“Our defense created a bunch of turnovers and then we just hung on and kept battling,” Meyer said. “Santa Margarita did a good job fighting back.”
Costello threw for 202 of his 289 yards in the second half, including touchdown strikes to Grant Calcaterra and Noah Rasheed after halftime. Rasheed had 130 yards receiving and Calcaterra had 107.
The Eagles appeared as if they’d get back into the game in a hurry. Calcaterra’s 40-yard touchdown came in the first two minutes of the second half, and 12 seconds after their initial score, the Eagles intercepted Simpson deep in Servite territory.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
