HUNTINGTON BEACH – Servite started fast, then stumbled but rebounded and went on to defeat Fountain Valley, 44-0, in a nonleague game Friday at Huntington Beach High.
It marked the second consecutive season that the Friars have opened with a win over the Barons.
Servite took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in 7 plays to take a quick 7-0 lead. Friars quarterback Tyler Lytle completed three passes during the drive and John Mumphery capped the surge with an 8-yard TD run.
On the ensuing series, Fountain Valley lined up to punt on fourth down at its 23-yard line but Josh Tellez’s pass fell incomplete and the Friars took over.
Two plays later, Servite cashed in as Lytle threw a 15-yard TD pass over the middle to Delon Hurt (6 catches), giving Servite a 14-0 lead after less than 5 minutes into the game.
It appeared that the Friars might be headed for an early route. But a combination of stiffening Barons defense, multiple Servite penalties and dropped passed kept the game tight until the third quarter.
Asa Fuller kicked a 47-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the half to give the Friars a 17-0 lead. Fuller added field goals of 28 and 38 yards in the second half.
Steven Muise and Nyle King added touchdown runs of 8 and 9 yards respectively in the third quarter as the Friars (1-0) exercised its dominance and built a 34-0 lead after three quarters. Muise scored Servite’s final touchdown on an 11-yard run.
“We started out great with 14 points but then we went into a penalty frenzy,” said Friars coach Scott Meyer. “We had a lot of young guy mistakes tonight but we cleaned it up in the second half.”
Lytle, a Colorado commit, was victimized by at least six drops, but completed 16 passes for 241 yards and a TD.
Benn Vallier led the Barons (0-1) with 68 yards rushing.
