Servite fights back, wins thriller against Mater Dei

ANAHEIM - Top-ranked Servite and ninth-ranked Mater Dei turned in another memorable chapter in their annual heavyweight rivalry series Friday night at Angel Stadium, especially in the second half.

The Monarchs, who were fighting for their playoffs lives, took a lead in the third quarter.

Servite responded, scoring 21 consecutive points on the way to a 35-28 victory over Mater Dei. The victory clinched at least a share of the Trinity League title for the Friars (8-1, 4-0), for the seventh consecutive season.

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"They (Mater Dei) made some huge plays at the right time, I think we made some huge plays and that's what great high school football games are all about," Servite coach Troy Thomas said.

The victory runs Servite's Trinity League winning streak to 18 consecutive games, but the Friars weren't able to celebrate until the clock read 0:00.

Mater Dei (3-6, 1-3) started its last possession on the Servite 47. Ryan McMahon connected on 6- and 17-yard passes to move the ball to the Servite 24.

An intentional grounding call moved the ball back, forcing McMahon to heave a couple of Hail Mary attempts to the end zone, but they fell incomplete.

"It is always good to end up on the right side of it," Thomas said. "That was a great game. It went back and forth all night, and I'm just glad, we came out on top."

The victory holds monumental consequences in this series and especially for the Monarchs.

This is Servite's third consecutive victory over Mater Dei, the first time that has happened since 1988.

The loss for Mater Dei ensures the Monarchs of a losing record for the first time since 1981 and eliminates Mater Dei from playoff contention.

"It is tough," Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. "Football is a game of inches, and we just came up short.

"The blocked punt was crucial. We had taken momentum, and I never saw that one coming."

Mater Dei took a 21-14 lead on a 14-yard touchdown pass from McMahon to Thomas Duarte in the third quarter.

Cody Pittman capped a 10-play, 85-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown to tie the score at 21-21.

On Mater Dei's next possession, Servite's Daniel Tejeda broke free and blocked the punt. Butch Pauu recovered in the end zone for the touchdown and a 28-21 lead.

"That's just the way it is," Rollinson said.

Servite went up 35-21 when Charlie Etiaki scored on a 52-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Etiaki was seeing his first action since he injured his clavicle earlier this season. He rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

McMahon found Duarte in the end zone with 4:53 left to make the score 35-28.

"I'm going to go gray early," Thomas said. "Every week is a battle."

Servite led 14-6 at halftime. Mater Dei tied the score on its first possession of the second half. Mychal Traylor took the toss from McMahon and completed a 45-yard TD pass to Jonathan Lockett. Mater Dei converted the 2-point conversion to tie the game and setting the second half madness off.

"I thought we played great defense, right until the end," Rollinson said. "Tonight, I think we battled.

"It was a great football game ... you had to like it."