Football: Anaheim Servite defeats Encino Crespi, 38-28

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The tone had been set by the opening kickoff.

That’s when Anaheim Servite’s Christopher Nicholls opened the game with a 76-yard kickoff return from the Friars’ 6-yard line.

It was just the beginning of a big night for Nicholls, who ran for three touchdowns in Anaheim Servite’s 38-28 victory over No. 15 Encino Crespi Friday at Cerritos College.

The Friars, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, are 3-0 and captured their first victory over the Celts after losing the past two contests.

Even if Encino Crespi (2-1) scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to make a blowout appear respectable, the Friars’ dominance in the first half gave them enough of a cushion to stave off the rally.

Nicholls had eight carries for 54 yards, with one of his touchdowns being a 90-yard kickoff return. That gave the Friars a 38-7 lead following Nicholas Echeverry’s extra point with 35 seconds left in the third quarter. Servite running back Sean DeRosa rushed for 102 yards off 22 carries with one touchdown.

The Friars can thank their running game for giving them a 31-0 halftime lead with 25 of Servite’s 35 plays consisting of running plays. Nicholls’ 76-yard kickoff return to start the game eventually set up Echeverry’s 27-yard field goal kick that gave Servite a 3-0 lead with 10:17 left in the first quarter.

DeRosa’s seven-yard touchdown run with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter gave the Friars a 10-0 lead following Echeverry’s extra point. A 48-yard run eventually set up Troy Niklas’ 11-yard touchdown pass from Fajardo. That made it 31-0 with 29 seconds left in the first half following Echeverry’s extra point.

The Friars’ running game finished with 253 yards off 41 carries.

--Mark Medina