Servite football arrives ready, demolishes No. 4 Mission Viejo
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COSTA MESA — Servite had been itching to play Mission Viejo during the opening week of the 2020 season, Friars quarterback Noah Fifita said.
Because of the coronavirus, that contest never took place.
After a year-long wait, the Friars, ranked No. 2 in Orange County, and the No. 4 Diablos finally matched up in a nonleague contest Thursday at Orange Coast College.
Servite wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, jumps up to make the catch over Mission Viejo wide receiver Trey Tolmaire in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite wide receiver Tetairoa Mcmillan celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against Mission Viejo in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo wide receiver Mikey Matthews, right, tries to get away from Servite linebacker Jacob Manu in the first quarter in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite running back Houston Thomas, left, turns on the speed as he gets away from Mission Viejo outside linebacker Daniel Dominguez, right, in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita, left, is stopped at the goal line by Mission Viejo outside linebacker Daniel Dominguez , center, and cornerback Jake Higgins, right, in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite running back Houston Thomas, center, sprints past Mission Viejo free safety Ruben Lopez, left, and outside linebacker Daniel Dominguez in the third quarter in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo wide receiver Mikey Matthews pulls down a pass in the third quarter against Servite in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite fans take a selfie before the start of the game against Mission Viejo in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite wide receiver Wesley Taylor, center left, celebrates his touchdown against Mission Viejo in the third quarter with teammate Tetairoa Mcmillan, center right, in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Kadin Semonza looks for a receiver in the first quarter against Servite in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite wide receiver Michael Welsh, right, beats Mission Viejo wide receiver Trey Tolmaire to break free into an open field to score a touchdown in the third quarter in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Service and Mission Viejo players take part in the coin toss before the start of their game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite coach Troy Thomas talks with his players during a break in the action against Mission Viejo in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita finds and opening in the Mission Viejo defense and sprints into the end zone for the score in the second quarter in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite tight end Keyan Burnett, left, lets a pass skip off the tips of his fingers as he beats Mission Viejo strong safety Carter Boskovich in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo players run on to the field before the start of the game against Servite in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo quarterback Kadin Semonza runs through the Servite defense to find his way into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the Mission Viejo band cheer on the their team during the game against Servite in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo coach Chad Johnson during the game against Servite in Costa Mesa on Thursday, August 26, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Friars (2-0) never forgot a 38-35 loss to Mission Viejo (1-1) in the opening round of the CIF SS Division 1 playoffs in 2019, Fifita said.
“We had this game circled on our calendars when the schedule came out,” said Fifita, a senior, who has committed to play at Arizona. “We have some players who live in Mission Viejo. This was a very personal game for us.”
Fifita’s only blemish was an interception on Servite’s opening drive.
Servite was ahead 3-0 when Fifita connected with Keyan Burnett (Arizona commit) for a 49-yard touchdown on a first-down play in the second quarter.
Later in the second, the Friars faced third-and-10 from the Diablos 21. Fifita, who rushed for 69 yards on seven carries, scrambled in the backfield, saw a huge hole in the middle of the field and sprinted to the end zone to make the score 17-0.
The Friars made it 24-0 when Fifita hit his favorite receiver, Tetairoa McMillan for a 4-yard touchdown.
One play before that, Fifita connected with Michael Welsh for a 45-yard gain.
Through two games, Fifita has thrown for 565 yards and seven touchdowns, while the Friars have outscored their two opponents, 98-21.
“He’s a really smart kid,” Servite coach Troy Thomas said of the quarterback. “He’s got a high football IQ and he is a senior and that is the difference. We’re an older team and you saw that tonight.”
McMillian, who has committed to Oregon, also grabbed an interception from the cornerback position and blocked a punt on special teams.
“It’s the first time he’s played an entire game on defense,” Thomas said of McMillian. “I didn’t see much of the offense but I know he always plays really well on offense too.”
Michael Hurst and Jayven Simbe also had interceptions for Servite and Mason Graham and Zion Sims had sacks.
“I think the strength of Mission was their receivers,” Thomas said, “and I think our guys did a really good job of holding them down.”
The Diablos’ touchdown came on an 18-yard run by quarterback Kadin Semonza in the third quarter.
