Two-time defending CIF Champion Edison Chargers (10-0), riding a 32-game winning streak, were about to begin their quest for a third straight CIF Title. Their first round opponent was Servite, the same team Edison defeated in the playoffs the previous two seasons, 17-0 and 35-0.
The Friars came into the game with a 6-4 record. They were the 4th place team in the Angelus League, and qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team.
A banner on the Edison sidelines read, “Edison Lose? Let’s get serious.”
Brian Salerno ’83 fielded the opening kickoff and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. After Nick Vucurevic’s ’82 PAT, the Friars found themselves leading 7-0.
The Friar defense had been inconsistent all year and faced a Charger offense that averaged 35.7 points per game. Charger QB Ken Major was Orange County’s #4-ranked passer, completing 68% of his passes, and RBs Dave Geroux and Theo Langford were considered one of the CIF’s best backfields.
The Servite defense rose to the occasion holding Edison to 33 yards passing, and 40 yards rushing in the first half. Meanwhile, Servite’s offense wasn’t setting the world on fire, until QB Doug Butler ’82 launched a bomb down the sideline to WR Eric Andrade ’83, who caught up with it at the 8-yard line and raced in for the touchdown. Another Nick Vucurevic PAT made it 14-0 at the half, and the Friars left the field to a standing ovation.
The Chargers came out for the 3rd quarter. QB Ken Major hit Brett Blanchard for a 16-yard TD and the Friar lead was reduced to 14-7.
Servite’s first drive of the 4th quarter played a huge part in deciding the outcome. Servite advanced 50 yards, and ran six minutes off the clock before punting with 5:30 remaining. Edison drove to the Friar 37-yard line, where the drive stalled. After an exchange of punts, the Chargers got the ball for one more possession, with 1:19 remaining. Edison drove to the Friar 21-yard line, and then QB Major threw four incomplete passes.
The Chargers had fallen, most of them for the first time in their high school career, while the Friars advanced and upset Fontana in the 2nd round before falling to St. Paul in the semi-finals.
It was quite exciting to watch from the sideline. I was one of 12 Sophomores brought up to Varsity for the playoffs. Mostly just to get our heads kicked in during practice. Boone Howard and myself were the only 2 DB’s and so we watched in disbelief as the defense held again and again. Then beating Redlands and in the Semi finals just getting our heads handed to us by the eventual champion St. Paul Swordsmen. Ill always remember those 3 weeks. Mostly what an absolute asshole that coach John Carroll was and the abusive way he treated the players he coached.