Servite’s Offensive Deception Leads to 39-11 Victory Over Marina

FULLERTON — Servite resorted to some old-fashioned trickery to defeat Marina, 39-11, in a Sunset League game Friday night at Cal State Fullerton.

Servite (4-0-1, 2-0 in league) trailed, 3-0, early but scored four first-half touchdowns, one on a play-action pass, one on a draw play and another on a reverse, to overtake Marina (1-1, 2-3).

Marina’s Mike Byers recovered a Servite fumble at the Friar 40-yard line on the game’s first play from scrimmage to set up the Vikings’ first score, a 25-yard field goal by Marty Sprong.

The Friar defense stiffened, and the offense out-tricked Marina’s defense the rest of the game.

Servite scored on a 47-yard play-action pass from Eric Hannah to Steve Correa to take a 6-3 lead and a Ryan Popovich 11-yard touchdown run on a draw play made 14-3. Correa also scored on a 30-yard reverse to make it 20-3.

Halfback Elphamous Malbrue finished the scoring late in the second quarter, catching a Hannah pass and breaking two tackles for a 23-yard touchdown play.

Servite’s first-string offense scored again in the second half when Hannah connected with Julian Jones on a 73-yard pass play. Servite had 254 yards rushing.