Kickoff 2012: Servite preview

August 21, 2012 12:19 PM

By STEVE FRYER

OCVARSITY.COM

Last season record: 10-2 overall, 5-0 league

Postseason: 2011, eliminated by Tesoro in Pac-5 Division second round

Coach: Troy Thomas (8th year, 72-18)

Home stadium: Cerritos College

Outlook: Servite has won league championships or co-championships in all seven of Thomas’ years as the school’s coach. This season could be as challenging as any of the previous ones. Santa Margarita is coming off of a huge year and is loaded with plenty of returning stars, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco of Bellflower could be improved and Orange Lutheran could be rejuvenated. But Servite certainly has enough to compete with any team in the league or the Pac-5 Division. The Friars have five returning starters on defense, including 2011 All-Trinity League second-team selections Joel Foy at linebacker, Michael Consuni at guard and Austin Pyka at defensive tackle. Running backs Selesi Eteaki and Mana Pau’u were all-league second team. Thomas is counting on senior leadership to continue to be a team strength. Servite’s kicking game also will be an asset, and in a league like the Trinity any advantage is a crucial advantage.

Factoid: Servite goes into the season with an 18-game league winning streak.

School record: 383-176-1

Scroll down to see the starting lineup and players to watch at Servite High School. See the Trinity League preview. See all Kickoff 2012 football preview coverage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Salesi Eteaki: Sometimes they call him Salesi, sometimes Charlie. Whatever, Eteaki’s play has attracted scholarship offers from Nevada and Sacremento State.
QB Neil Pau’u: He looked good at the quarterback position during the summer, but just might contribute at receiver as much or even more this season.
STARTING LINEUP
Offense Pos.	Name	Height	Weight	Year
QB	Neil Pau’u	6-4	195	Jr.
RB	Salesi Eteaki	6-0	200	Sr.
RB	Mana Pau’u	5-10	205	Sr.
WR	Tony Brown	6-0	180	So.
WR	Nico Ament	6-2	190	So.
WR	Equanimeous St. Brown	6-4	180	So.
T	Zachary Tombol	6-2	220	Sr.
G	Michael Consunji	5-11	230	Sr.
C	Uriel Gutierrez	6-2	255	Sr.
G	Chris Dinunzio	6-1	220	Sr.
T	Frank Clarke	6-2	235	Sr.
K	Nicholas Mares	6-0	175	Sr.
Defense Pos.	Name	Height	Weight	Year
DE	Jack Savage	6-1	200	So.
DT	Austin Pyka	5-10	220	Sr.
DT	Andrew Moore	6-0	230	Jr.
DE	Manu Pau’u	5-10	205	Sr.
OLB	Jason Cone	6-0	200	Sr.
MLB	Joel Foy	6-2	220	Sr.
OLB	Kevin Merk	5-10	180	Sr.
CB	Kyle Ray	5-10	165	Sr.
S	James Ferraro	5-11	175	Sr.
S	Justice McCree	5-10	170	Sr.
CB	Demetric Woodard	5-10	160	Jr.
P	Jared Hemann	6-2	190	Sr.
KR	Salesi Eteaki	6-0	200	Sr.
PR	James Ferraro	5-11	175	Sr.