Friars bounce back with big victory over Long Beach Poly

Servite fans celebrate with their players after their win over Poly on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite fans celebrate with their players after their win over Poly on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly cheerleader Sabrina Gloriani before the start of the Servite/Poly football game on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Andrew Moore (3) carries the ball against Poly on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Neil Pau'u (8) celebrate a catch with teammates Nick Lopiccola (5) and Equanimeous St. Brown (6) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite fans celebrate with their players after their win over Poly on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly cheerleader Sabrina Gloriani before the start of the Servite/Poly football game on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Andrew Moore (3) carries the ball against Poly on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Neil Pau'u (8) celebrate a catch with teammates Nick Lopiccola (5) and Equanimeous St. Brown (6) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
John Sanchez waves a Poly flag before the start of the Servite/Poly football game on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's John Smith (9) winces in pain on the sidelines of their game against Servite on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's Omari Lyles (42) chases after Servite's Travis Waller (11) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's Johnnie Rucker (17) catches a touchdown pass with three seconds left on the clock as Servite's Anthony Williams (39) tries to stop him on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Maurice Davison (1) intercepts a pass intended for Poly's John Smith (9) as Servite's Nick Difilippo (7) approaches on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's Christian Pabico (18) catches a pass intended for him as after it flew through the arms of Servite's Anthony Medina (19) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Paul Burke, left, Charlie Motsko greet each other before the start of the Servite/Poly football game on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. Burke has a grandson who plays for Servite and Motsko was a teacher at the school.
Poly's Jeremy Calhoun (2) manages to avoid Servite's Kameron Dennis (21) as he runs for a touchdown on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Travis Waller (11) carries the ball as his teammate Tony Brown (2) keeps Poly's Demetric Woodard Jr. (6) away on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's Demetric Woodard Jr. (6) tries to stop Servite's Nick Lopiccola (5) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Servite's Tate Beachley (25) tries to hold off Poly's John Smith (9) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's John Smith (9) tries to get away from Servite's Jorge Alvarez (10) and Patrick Flynn (85) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly head coach Raul Lara hangs his head after their loss to Servite on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's Jeremy Calhoun (2) tries to get through Servite's defense on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
John Sanchez waves a Poly flag before the start of the Servite/Poly football game on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.
Poly's Jason Fao (55) takes down Servite's Travis Waller (11) on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.

By Tom Connolly | Orange County Register

September 8, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.

NORWALK Quarterback Travis Waller spirited a second half rally that propelled Servite to a 31-24 victory over defending CIF-SS Pac- 5 champion Long Beach Poly in a nonleague game Friday night at Cerritos College.

Waller rushed for 200 yards, scored two touchdowns and passed for another TD as the Friars (1-1) rebounded after an opening-week loss to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas.

“This is a big, big win for us,” said Waller, who also completed eight passes for 115 yards. “We wanted this win so bad after losing last week. This is really going to give our season momentum”

Trailing, 12-10, at half the Friars retook the lead midway through the third quarter after momentum-turning defensive stand. Servite linebacker Justin Parcells made jarring hits on Poly QB Tai Natani Tiedemann on consecutive plays to stall a Jackrabbits (1-1) drive at the Friars 16 yard line.

One play later, Waller showcased his speed and outran the Poly secondary for an 84-yard touchdown run. Waller then ran in the 2-point conversion, giving the Friars an 18-12 lead.

Later in the quarter Waller tossed a 9-yard scoring pass to Tony Brown to improve Servite’s lead to 25-12. The Jackrabbits cut it to 25-18 after a 6-yard touchdown pass from Josh Love to Johnnie Rucker.

The Friars then sealed the victory when Nick Lopiccola scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 6:51 to play. The Jackrabbits scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, but it was too little, too late.

“We watched film and we know the mistakes we made last week, and we felt like we had a good plan coming in against these guys,” said first-year Servite coach A.J. Gass, who was drenched with a Gatorade shower after the game.

The Friars took advantage of two short Long Beach Poly punts to build an early lead in the opening quarter. After a 27-yard field goal by Patrick Flynn, Servite increased its lead to 10-0 as Waller scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 2 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Jackrabbits got on the board on a 59-yard scoring run by Jeremy Calhoun II early in the second quarter. However, Poly’s 2-point conversion pass attempt came up short and the Jackrabbits trailed 10-6.

Poly capitalized on a Friars’ miscue and drove down field for the go ahead score. Calhoun capped the scoring drive with his second touchdown – a 1-yard run – with 19 seconds left in the half. Killian Turley’s PAT was blocked and the Jackrabbits held a 12-10 lead at the break.

Calhoun led Poly with 100 yards rushing.