Servite regains the lead, 21-18

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Chris Nicholls has caught a nine-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 left to give Servite a 21-18 lead over Long Beach Poly in a wild Pac-5 quarterfinal.

Servite’s final drive started on its own six-yard line with 4:25 left. Cody Fajardo completed passes of six, 17 and 28 yards as they patiently drove down field. The Friars faced a fourth-and-three situation from the Poly 32 with 2:11 left.

Servite called timeout. Then Poly called timeout. The tension and pressure could be felt in the packed stands of Veterans Stadium. Fajardo took the snap and kept looking for an open receiver. There was none. Then, at the last second, he threw a short pass intended for Ainsle Johnson. It fell incomplete but pass interference was called, giving Servite a first down.

Then, with 1:37 left, the Friars faced another fourth-and-one from the 9. Another timeout by Servite, followed by another timeout by Poly. More tension.

But Fajardo completed the nine-yard TD pass to Nicholls running toward the left. Now it’s up to Poly to answer.

-- Eric Sondheimer