Starting Week 3 of the high school football season with notes, comments and observations …
“Credo” means “I believe”: Servite can make a lot of people believers this week.
The Latin word “Credo” is all over Servite clothing and car stickers and all else. It comes from the school motto “Credo ut Intelligam” that in English is “I believe so I may understand.”
Servite (2-1) plays Los Alamitos (3-0) on Friday at Cerritos College. Los Alamitos is the best team the Friars will play before they begin Trinity League games against – uh oh! – Mater Dei on Sept. 29.
The Friars grabbed some attention two weeks ago with a 34-31 loss to Rancho Cucamonga, the No. 19 team in CalHiSports.com’s state rankings. Last week Servite crushed La Mirada 60-14 to perhaps grow the supply of believers.
Servite is a young group with freshman linebacker Isaiah Leilua leading the team in solo tackles with 14 and freshman guard Kaden Franco a stalwart at offensive line, where senior center Eduardo Saldana has also been outstanding. If the Friars upset Los Alamitos or make a good showing in a close loss one might believe that the Friars under first-year coach Chris Reinert could steal a win or two in the fierce Trinity League. And if a playoff berth is given, the Friars could make an interesting run in whatever division they would be placed for the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
This week: Friday’s schedule is a beauty, featuring Orange County No. 8 Corona del Mar at No. 9 San Clemente, No. 13 Newport Harbor at No. 15 San Juan Hills and No. 10 Servite-No. 3 Los Alamitos. Other games worth monitoring, or better yet, attending will be No. 19 La Habra-Orange at El Modena High, Dana Hills-Esperanza at Yorba Linda High, and Santiago at Estancia.
Best winless team: El Modena. The Vanguards are 0-2 after a 21-17 loss to Colony and last week’s 31-14 loss to Cypress. El Modena has its usual hard hitters – three Cypress players were spotted postgame with ice bags on their shoulders, and none of those guys played quarterback. The Vanguards play at 3-0 Segerstrom on Friday.
They have had some great teams: Yet from the early looks, this could be the most-talented Mater Dei football team. Mater Dei at St. John Bosco, which is 3-0 while playing a national-level schedule, on Oct. 13 will be fantastic.
The Garden Grove League mystery: Los Amigos and Rancho Alamitos looked like the league’s best teams going into this season. Now both are 1-1 after unforeseen losses, Rancho’s 41-14 loss to Anaheim and Los Amigos’ 21-7 loss to University. Meanwhile, Bolsa Grande, La Quinta and Santiago are 2-1.
Sunny Hills shining: The Lancers are 3-0 thanks mostly to their running game. They are averaging 295 yards rushing a game, led by senior Johnny Ramirez who has 335 yards and six touchdowns over three games. Sunny Hills has a good challenge Friday when it plays at 2-1 Brea Olinda.
Zeroes at Westminster: The Lions have back-to-back shutout wins, 26-0 over Santiago and 41-0 over Santa Ana Valley, after a 28-26 loss to Brea. Westminster senior linebacker Evangelino Salud leads the team with 16 solo tackles and senior safety Ezekiel Cedillo has 14 solo tackles with six tackles for loss.
Off and running: Esperanza senior running back Aaron Forsgren has rushed for a county-leading 584 yards over three games and is averaging 12 yards a carry.
You’re not playing basketball: Two players at the La Habra-Newport Harbor game Friday were sent to the sideline before play began or resumed because their football pants did not cover their knees. That’s a uniform violation.
We’re going to miss him: One of the best features of a Mission Viejo football home game is public address announcer Harvey Ohman. This is his 41st and final year as the easy-on-the-ears voice of Diablos football. His style is as smooth as yogurt, with the occasional wry comment adding just the right pinch of kind flavor.
