Servite sprints past Crespi and holds on for 38-28 win

The tone had been set by the opening kickoff.

That’s when Anaheim Servite’s Christopher Nicholls opened the game with a 76-yard kickoff return from the Friars’ six-yard line.

It was only the beginning of a big night for Nicholls, who ran for three touchdowns in Servite’s 38-28 victory over No. 15 Encino Crespi Friday at Cerritos College.

The Friars, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, are 3-0 and captured their first victory over the Celts after losing the last two games involving the teams.

Even if Crespi (2-1) scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to make a blowout appear respectable, the Friars’ dominance in the first half gave them enough of a cushion to stave off the rally.

Nicholls had eight carries for 54 yards, with one of his touchdowns being a 90-yard kickoff return. That gave the Friars a 38-7 lead after Nicholas Echeverry’s extra point with 35 seconds left in the third quarter.

Servite running back Sean DeRosa rushed for 102 yards in 22 carries with one touchdown.

The Friars can thank their running game for giving them a 31-0 halftime lead with 25 of Servite’s 35 plays consisting of running plays. Nicholls’ 76-yard kickoff return to start the game eventually set up Echeverry’s 27-yard field goal that gave Servite a 3-0 lead with 10:17 left in the first quarter.

DeRosa’s seven-yard touchdown run with 5:46 left in the second quarter gave the Friars a 10-0 lead after Echeverry’s extra point.

A 48-yard run eventually set up Troy Niklas’ 11-yard touchdown pass from Cody Fajardo. That made it 31-0 with 29 seconds left in the first half after Echeverry’s extra point.

The Friars’ running game finished with 253 yards in 41 carries.

-- Mark Medina

Notre Dame beats Taft

D.J. Morgan did his part to keep Woodland Hills Taft close throughout its showdown against host Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

One problem: The Knights had Kenny Boggs, and ultimately, the senior running back proved to be too much in a 45-27 nonleague victory.

Boggs scored three touchdowns in the second quarter alone, finding the end zone on a one-yard run at the 10:39 mark, a 47-yarder six minutes later, and to top it off, he scored another on a 15-yard run with 58 seconds remaining before halftime to give Notre Dame (2-1) a 35-14 advantage at the intermission.

He scored a one-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the fourth quarter to extend the Notre Dame lead to 18 points, essentially putting the game out of reach.

When all was said and done, Boggs finished with 221 yards rushing in 26 carries with four touchdowns for the Knights, ranked No. 17 in the Southland by The Times.

Morgan gained only 18 yards in his first six carries, but the USC-bound senior then scored on a 60-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 28-14 with 3:39 left in the second quarter.

It was more of the same in second half. More Morgan running wild in the secondary. He scored on a 44-yard run with 6:27 left in the third quarter, and all of a sudden, the Toreadors trailed 35-20. His 69-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter made it a 38-27 game.

Ryan Kasdorf, however, engineered an 11-play, 72-yard drive, taking 4:36 off the clock, with Boggs scoring to provide the final margin.

Morgan ended the night with 235 yards in 19 carries and three touchdowns for Taft (1-1), ranked No. 13 by The Times.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Two-minute drill

Malcolm Jones rushed for 115 yards and scored the winning touchdown on a 48-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter as No. 4 Westlake Village Oaks Christian (3-0) defeated two-time defending Washington state champions Sammamish Skyline (2-1), 28-25. Quarterback Nick Montana, who’s committed to Washington, had three touchdown passes. Oaks Christian Coach Bill Reddell recorded his 200th career victory as the Lions ended Skyline’s 30-game winning streak. . . . Max Wittek threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Victor Maxwell in the third quarter to help Santa Ana Mater Dei (2-1) to a 31-13 upset of No. 9 Corona Centennial (1-1). . . . Quarterback Logan Meyer passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns as No. 3 Ventura St. Bonaventure (3-0) defeated L.A. Jordan, 42-21. De’Shawn Beck rushed for 205 yards for Jordan (1-2). . . . Drake Griffin and Deion Williams each scored two touchdowns to lead Sana Fe Springs St. Paul (2-1) to a 55-0 victory over host Whittier Pioneer (0-2). . . . Dallin McEwen passed for 244 yards and three touchdowns as No. 16 Mission Viejo (3-0) defeated Corona (0-2), 45-14.