NORWALK – Servite was ready to shock the high school football world.
A nearly flawless game had left the sixth-ranked Friars in control, needing just one more defensive stop to defeat two-time defending state champion and state top-ranked De La Salle of Concord.
But Kairee Robinson, one of the few returners from last year’s Spartans team, would have none of that.
Robinson’s successful two-point conversion run gave De La Salle its first lead of the second half, and the Spartans escaped against Servite, 28-27, Friday in a nonleague game at Cerritos College.
The Spartans running back scored on an 8-yard run with exactly one minute remaining as De La Salle (3-0) completed a 58-yard drive.
“The coaches had just been telling us the whole game to pick up the right blocks,” Robinson said. “That last drive, we just gave it all we had. We had the right blocks, and we got into the end zone.”
Robinson finished with 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Servite (1-2) had taken the lead with 2:18 to go. Running back Steven Muise (112 total yards) picked up four first downs on the 76-yard drive, including a 5-yard touchdown that broke a 20-20 tie.
Led by linebackers Jarrett Wesner, Jaiden Jimerson and Jayce Smalley, the Friars’ defense authored six defensive stops.
“We came out with anger and ferocity, and we were ready to play,” Wesner said. “We always talk about bringing the pain train. You’re either on it or you’re in front of it.”
A wild first half yielded five lead changes, the last of which came on a 34-yard field goal by Asa Fuller to give Servite a 13-12 lead as the first half expired.
Jackson Walsh’s 31-yard field goal had given De La Salle the lead with 45 seconds left in the half.
Tyler Lytle drove Servite 63 yards on six plays to set up Fuller’s attempt. Delon Hurt had catches of 15 and 27 yards on the drive.
In the third quarter, Lytle crashed across the goal line on a quarterback sneak, extending the Friars’ edge to 20-12.
With 2:45 left in the quarter, Robinson scampered around the left end for an 11-yard score. He plunged ahead on the next play to tie it on a two-point conversion.
Lytle had great chemistry with Dominic Wingfield, who reeled in 11 catches for 124 yards. Hurt had five catches for 106 yards.
