Kickoff '08: Servite Friars
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Servite
Last season: 9-3, 4-1 (tie, first place)
Postseason: 2007, lost to Crespi, 13-10, in Pac-5 Division semifinals
Coach: Troy Thomas (4th year, 27-10)
Outlook: They don't have a playmaker equal to D.J. Shoemate or a lineman like Matt Kalil – both graduated and are at USC – but the Friars still have 13 returning starters, including some 2007 defensive standouts. Among them are Bijon Samoodi, an All-County defensive back last year who will play a lot at receiver this year. Gregory Portis was an all-league running back last year, and Jacob Romero and Jacob Slemmer also made all-league in 2007. Coach Troy Thomas has high regard for quarterback Cody Fajardo, whom the coach praises for his all-around skills and leadership. Thomas said leadership and camaraderie again will fuel Servite this year. A name to remember: Troy Niklas, a sophomore tight end who will line up at defensive end on occasion.
Home stadium: Cerritos College
Factoid: Servite has won at least a share of the league championship in each of Thomas' three years coaching there, and the Friars are 5-3 in the playoffs during his tenure.
Fastest: Chris Nichols
School record: 338-168-11
| Players to watch | |||
 | Bijon Samoodi An All-County defensive back who will also play receiver this year | Gregory Portis He was all-league first team last year | |
| Offense Pos. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Cody Fajardo | 6-1 | 180 | Sr. |
| RB | Gregory Portis | 5-6 | 160 | Sr. |
| WR* | Rudy Guerrero | 5-6 | 152 | Jr. |
| WR* | Christopher Nicholls | 5-7 | 160 | Jr. |
| WR | Jamar Johnson | 5-10 | 165 | Sr. |
| WR | Michael Marcoux | 5-8 | 165 | Jr. |
| OL | Riley Whyte | 6-1 | 247 | Jr. |
| OL | Nicholas Espinoza | 6-2 | 298 | Jr. |
| OL | Matthew Jakubiec | 6-8 | 277 | Jr. |
| OL | Wyatt Baker | 6-2 | 253 | So. |
| OL | Zachary Burge | 6-4 | 253 | Sr. |
| TE | Troy Niklas | 6-5 | 219 | So. |
| K | Nicholas Echeverry | 5-6 | 141 | Jr. |
| Defense Pos. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Year |
| DL | Willie Mathews | 5-9 | 197 | Sr. |
| DL | Kirifi Taula | 6-3 | 269 | Jr. |
| DL | Joshua Gaston | 5-11 | 189 | Sr. |
| DL | Jacob Romero | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. |
| LB* | Dominic Greco | 6-2 | 197 | Jr. |
| LB* | Matt Inman | 5-8 | 187 | So. |
| LB* | Anthony Ferraro | 6-3 | 209 | Sr. |
| LB* | Jacob Slemmer | 5-9 | 157 | Jr. |
| LB | Dontaie Ferguson | 6-0 | 210 | Sr. |
| DB | Bijon Samoodi | 5-8 | 165 | Sr. |
| DB | Christopher Urell | 6-0 | 165 | Sr. |
| DB | Dwight Storay | 5-10 | 160 | Sr. |
| DB | Esteban Garcia | 5-10 | 154 | Jr. |
| P | Michael Loftus | 6-1 | 190 | Sr. |
* Final selection to be determined
Related:
• Trinity League schools: JSerra | Mater Dei | Orange Lutheran | Santa Margarita | Servite | St. John Bosco
• All Football Kickoff '08 articles
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
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