BELLFLOWER — It took a half for the offenses of Servite and St. John Bosco to deliver the points many anticipated Friday, but once it happened, the Braves had just enough firepower to hold off the Friars.
The reigning national champion scored on its first four possessions of the second half en route to 38-28 victory in a Trinity League game at St. John Bosco.
Servite (2-1, 1-1) led 7-3 at halftime, but St. John Bosco (3-0, 2-0) roared in the second half. The Braves produced a 98-yard scoring drive, a 75-yard TD run by Jabari Bates and scored on a fourth down.
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Servite’s Noah Fifita jumps into the end zone for a touchdown against St. John Bosco during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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St. John Bosco’s Michael Hayes runs the ball for a short gain against Servite during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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Servite’s Tetairoa McMillan completes a pass for a first down against St. John Bosco during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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Servite’s Houston Thomas runs the ball for a first down against St. John Bosco during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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St. John Bosco’s Logan Booher is tackled by Servite’s Nick Jako during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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St. John Bosco’s Katin Houser throws a pass for a first down against Servite during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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St. John Bosco’s Rayshon Luke is tackled by Servite’s defense during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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St. John Bosco’s Jabari Bates runs the ball for a large gain against Servite during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
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St. John Bosco’s Rayshon Luke spins to avoid a tackle by Servite’s defense during a Trinity League game in Bellflower on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Tight end Matayo Uiagalelei, split out at receiver, caught a 12-yard TD pass from Pierce Clarkson on fourth-and-8 to give the Braves a 31-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.
After Servite quarterback Noah Fifita responded with a 1-yard TD run to trim the deficit to 31-28 with 5:18 remaining, St. John Bosco converted another key fourth down on its way to a 15-yard TD run by running back Michael Hayes with 1:59 left that capped the scoring.
Bates rushed for 160 of his game-high 177 yards in the second half, while Clarkson tossed two touchdowns.
Fifita had just 6 yards passing in the first half but finished with 197 and also rushed for two scores. He tossed a 3-yard touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan and also added a 74-yard completion to his fellow junior, who made eight of his catches in the final two quarters.
The Braves opened the second half by driving for a 27-yard touchdown reception by Uiagalelei from Katin Houser. Jode McDuffie sparked the possession by returning the second-half kickoff 38 yards.
St. John Bosco drove 98 yards for a touchdown on its next possession behind a punishing ground attack.
Servite led 7-3 at halftime behind its swarming defense and a second-quarter spark from running back Houston Thomas.
The Friars’ defense, led by Ben Florentine, Jacob Manu and Nick Jako among others, recorded four sacks. Florentine recorded one and a tackle for loss while Manu helped with another sack and blocked a field goal.
Manu blocked a 39-yard field goal attempt late in the first quarter, which sparked a 73-yard scoring drive by the Friars.
Thomas, son of Servite coach Troy Thomas, entered during the series at running back and broke a pair of 16-yard runs to lead to his 3-yard TD run that gave the Friars a 7-3 lead with 10:04 left in the half.
St. John Bosco took a 3-0 lead by capping its opening series with a 43-yard field goal by Andre Meono.
Rayshon Luke, the Braves’ speedy running back, played after leaving last week against Santa Margarita with an injury. Servite played without USC-committed tight end Keyan Burnett, who was injured.
The first half belonged to the defenses.
Next week, Servite takes on Mater Dei on Saturday, April 3 at Santa Ana Stadium at 7 p.m., while the Braves play host to JSerra on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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