LA VERNE – Damien coach Matt Bechtel wanted to use Friday night’s season opener against visiting Servite as a barometer of the progress made by his football program.
The Spartans showed they have a lot of work to do after being routed by one of the Southland’s best.
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita completed 19 of 25 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns to propel the Friars (1-0) to a convincing 42-6 victory over the Spartans.
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Keyan Burnett #88 celebrates with teammate Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan #4 of Servite after catching a pass and running for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Roman Toilolo #1 of Damien scrambles against Servite in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Noah Fifita #1 of Servite prepares to pass against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Keyan Burnett #88 of Servite catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Aden “Ace” Eckenwiler #5 of Servite tackles Steven Munoz #5 of Damien for a loss of yards in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Dylan Gutierrez #17 of Damien passes against Servite in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Noah Fifita #1 of Servite run for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Maxx Silao #8 of Servite sacks quarterback Roman Toilolo #1 of Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Bandy #32 of Servite runs fora first down against Jaylen Lopez #2 of Damien n the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Dylan Gutierrez #17 of Damien is sacked by Jacob Manu #9 of Servite in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Damien enters the field as only two family members per player are allowed to watch due to the Coronavirus Pandemic during a prep football game between Damien and Servite at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Head coach Troy Thomas of Servite looks on against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Fans look on as only two family members per player are allowed to watch due to the Coronavirus Pandemic during a prep football game between Damien and Servite at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Wes Taylor #12 of Servite runs for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan #4 of Servite catches a pass and runs for touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Roman Toilolo #1 of Damien passes against Servite in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan #4 of Servite catches a pass for a first down against Jaylen Lopez #2 of Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Keyan Burnett #88 celebrates with teammate Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan #4 of Servite after catching a pass and running for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Aden “Ace” Eckenwiler #5 of Servite tackles Steven Munoz #5 of Damien for a loss of yards in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Noah Fifita #1 of Servite run for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Keyan Burnett #88 of Servite catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Only two family members per player are allowed to watch due to the Coronavirus Pandemic during a prep football game between Damien and Servite at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Maxx Silao #8 of Servite reacts after sacking quarterback Roman Toilolo #1 of Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Noah Fifita #1 of Servite dives for yardage against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan #4 of Servite catches a pass and runs for touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Roman Toilolo #1 of Damien reacts as Servite celebrates after a sack in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Damien cheerleader wearing a mask due to the Coronavirus Pandemic performs in the first half of a prep football game between Damien and Servite at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Maxx Silao #8 of Servite sacks Quarterback Roman Toilolo #1 of Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Quarterback Noah Fifita #1 of Servite prepares to pass against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Keyan Burnett #88 celebrates with teammate Tetairoa “TMac” McMillan #4 of Servite after catching a pass and running for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Keyan Burnett #88 of Servite catches a pass and runs for a touchdown against Damien in the first half of a prep football game at Damien High School in La Verne on Friday, March 12, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
“(Fifita) kills us at practice,” Servite coach Troy Thomas said. “Our offense has a chance to be really good. I hope we have time to get there, but they are dangerous.”
Servite coach Troy Thomas talks about his team’s performance on Friday in their win over Damien. @SGVNSports @ocvarsity @SteveFryer @ocvarsityguy pic.twitter.com/blyln5rLSS
— James Escarcega
(@James_Escarcega) Fifita looked spectacular in the first half, as he completed 14 of 17 passes for 279 yards and all three touchdowns.
“It was not a bad night,” Fifita said. “All credit goes to the players and the coaches. They put me in a great position, I have the best receiving core in the nation.”
Servite quarterback Noah Fafita talks about his big night. @SGVNSports @ocvarsity @SteveFryer @ocvarsityguy pic.twitter.com/1ZLEefgavN
— James Escarcega
It was a tough night for Damien quarterback Donovan Smith. A transfer from Los Osos High, the senior completed 7 of 16 passes for 34 yards and an interception.
“That’s a good football team over there and their players and coaches came ready to play,” Bechtel said. “I’m disappointed in our lack of physical play. I thought our kids were ready, I thought we were prepared. But probably the biggest disappointment is we got punched in the mouth and didn’t respond. As a coaching staff, that’s our problem and it’s something we have to address and fix.”
Damien coach Matt Bechtel following 42-6 loss to Servite pic.twitter.com/BvpFx2Yqxv
— Fred J. Robledo
(@SGVNSports) Servite scored on its opening possession as Fifita found junior Wes Taylor for 21 yards with 4:34 remaining in the first quarter that culminated in a 10-play, 69 yard drive for a 7-0 lead.
On the first play of the second quarter, Fifita scampered 22 yards untouched for another score that increased Servite’s advantage to 13-0.
Servite strikes first, QB Noah Fifita with a 21 yard TD pass to Wes Taylor, 7-0 over Damien, 4:34 left first quarter. pic.twitter.com/pRzieYltF2
— Fred J. Robledo
Servite QB Noah Fifita keeps it himself and goes 22 yards for a TD, PAT no good, 13-0, 11:54 left second quarter pic.twitter.com/ezSlRIF45M
— Fred J. Robledo
Damien had a golden opportunity to score midway through the second quarter when Gio Russo recovered a Fifita fumble at the Damien 3 and took it all the way to the Servite 3 yard line.
After three pass attempts by Dylan Gutierrez were incomplete, Drake Gonzalez’s 24-yard field attempt was no good. Servite took full advantage on the next play when Fafita connected with USC-commit Keyan Burnett for a 69-yard touchdown pass that increased Servite’s lead to 20-0.
Servite fumble, Damien’s Gio Russo grabs it and nearly returns for a TD pic.twitter.com/FMHvlg2oEN
— Fred J. Robledo
“We had a scoop and almost scored,” Bechtel said. “We get the ball down to the three, and the first play we run an off tackle play and get stuffed for a three yard loss, and so that goes back to my point about not being physical enough.
“And we come back on second and third down and have guys open in the end zone and we overshoot them. So, now we got lack of physical play and some execution things, so at the end of the day that’s on us as a coaching staff to fix.”
Damien (0-1) had another golden opportunity to score, advancing the ball from their own 15 yard line to the Servite 20 on the strength of four Servite penalties.
On fourth down, Servite defensive back Jack Kane turned in the play of the game as he intercepted a Smith pass in the corner of the end zone one-handed.
Watch this one hand interception by Servite’s Jack Kane, just incredible pic.twitter.com/HBA0mfrkfV
— Fred J. Robledo
On the next play Fifita found a wide open Tetairoa “T-Mac” McMillan, who had a game high 161 receiving yards on eight receptions, for an 80-yard touchdown strike with 49 seconds left in the half for a 27-0 lead.
The Servite scoring onslaught continued in the third quarter with a pair of rushing touchdowns from Kyle Bandy (42 yards) and Houston Thomas (one yard).
“I thought our kids played hard and were a little excited to play,” Thomas said. “We had some penalties that we’ll have to clean up. It’s a good win.”
Damien’s only touchdown of the game came in the final stages of the fourth quarter when Gutierrez connected with Nick Pendleton on a 26-yard touchdown pass.
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