SHERMAN OAKS >> Before the start of the second half of Friday night’s nonleague football game featuring Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and visiting Servite, Friars coach Troy Thomas had a simple message for his team.
“Right here, right now,” Thomas said.
It was the Friars’ defensive unit that responded to the challenge as it held Notre Dame scoreless in the second half, and that proved to be the difference in a 16-13 victory.
It was the defensive unit that stifled Notre Dame on the final offensive series of the game, sacking Knights’ quarterback Zachary Siskowic twice.
“I felt that we made some young mistakes early on in the game,” said Thomas. “We made some adjustment at halftime and I thought our defense played lights out. They are learning and getting better.”
Warren cheerleader Katherine Giron, 17, cheers during the game against La Serna during the first quarter at Warren High School on Friday, September 27, 2019. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Kyle Bandy #32 crosses the goal line for a touchdown during their game against Notre Dame at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Servite’s Tetairoa Mcmillan #4 makes a big gain on a reception during their game against Notre Dame at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame quarterback Zachary Siskowic #15 heads for the end zone for a touchdown during their game against Servite at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame quarterback Zachary Siskowic #15 heads for the end zone for a touchdown during their game against Servite at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame quarterback Zachary Siskowic #15 passes the ball during their game against Servite at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame’s Anthony Spearman #26 carries the ball during their game against Servite at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite’s Daniel Bates #13 moves in for the tackle as Notre Dame’s Anthony Spearman #26 rushes the ball during their game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite’s Kyle Bandy #32 looks for some running room during their game against Notre Dame at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite’s Noah Fifita #1 scrambles as Notre Dame’s Sean Guyton #3 moves in during their game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame quarterback Zachary Siskowic #15 passes the ball during their game against Servite at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame’s Zachary Siskowic #15 tries to escape the tackle of Servite’s Daniel Bates #13 during their game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Notre Dame’s Anthony Spearman #26 looks for a hole during their game against Servite at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita #1 passes the ball during their game against Notre Dame at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita #1 passes the ball during their game against Notre Dame at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita #1 looks for some running room as Notre Dame’s Quintin Lyons #54 moves in for the stop during their game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite quarterback Noah Fifita #1 looks for some running room as Notre Dame’s Quintin Lyons #54 moves in for the stop during their game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Servite’s Zedakiah Centers #6 attempts to avoid the tackle of Notre Dame’s Justin Horton #7 during their game at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA., Friday, September 27, 2019. . (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
It is also becoming apparent that Servite sophomore quarterback Noah Fafita is improving with each and every game. Fafita picked apart the Knights’ defense consistently throughout the contest. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 201 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tetairoa McMillan caught seven passes for 114 yards.
“I have to give credit to our defense,” Fafita said. “They really saved it for us in the second half. Our offense can play with anyone and, as you can see, our defense can come up in the clutch when we need it.”
Notre Dame (4-1) received a huge effort from running back Anthony Spearman. Making his first start back from a lower-body injury, Spearman carried the ball 15 times for 84 yards.
Also contributing with a heroic effort was Siskowic. He made key plays throughout the game despite a consistent Servite pass rush that forced him out the pocket for the majority of the second half.
“I love (Siskowic) – he is such a competitor,” Notre Dame coach Kevin Rooney said. “We have to do a better job of protecting him. Spearman is still struggling with the injury, but he played hard.”
The first half was dominated by both teams’ offensive units. Neither team punted the ball during the half. Servite (4-1) was the first team that scored when Kevin Ryan converted on a 23-yard field goal that capped a 12-play, 73-yard drive that gave the Friars a 3-0 lead.
The Knights scored on their first offensive possession when Santiago Weschler carried the ball for a 1-yard TD run with 10:07 remaining the second quarter for a 7-3 advantage.
Fafita, who completed 10 of 13 passes for 155 yards in the first half, found a wide-open Zedakiah Centers on a 16-yard strike and Servite regained the advantage 10-7. Notre Dame responded, going on a 10-play, 66-yard drive that was culminated with Siskowic scoring a 13-yard run for a 13-10 lead.
Servite scored on its final drive of the first half when Kyle Bandy hit pay dirt on a 2-yard run with 39 seconds remaining and a 16-13 lead.
