Servite football rumbles past Notre Dame behind powerful run game

COSTA MESA — Servite ran for 291 yards with five touchdowns in its 38-17 win over Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks in a nonleague football game Friday at Orange Coast College.

The Friars are 4-0 for the first time since 2021.

San Diego State commit Quaid Carr led Servite in rushing with 142 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns.

Whenever Carr has a big game running the ball, his mother prepares a nice meal for the offensive line the following week.

“They are working in the trenches and are doing everything for me. I love them for that,” Carr said. “Whenever I have a good game like this, my mom cooks them some good food. They want that food.”

Servite’s offensive line features Elisha Mueller, Gavin Jones, Brandon Bass, Brody Black and Keiden Lokeni.

“The offensive line and tight ends came out and moved people,” Servite coach Chris Reinert said. “That’s what we are, a physical team.”

Servite quarterback Leo Hannan, who is committed to Michigan State, did not play Friday after suffering an injury last week against Chaminade. Reinert said Hannan is doing fine and the injury is week-to-week.

Sophomore Colin O’Connor started at quarterback for Servite and completed 11 of 16 passes for 136 yards.

Quarterback Steele Pizzella was excellent for the Knights (2-2), particularly in the first half. The Washington State commit threw for 301 yards with a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown.

Servite’s defense shut out Notre Dame in the second half and held Pizzella to 100 yards passing in the half.

“He caused a lot of problems. He’s a really good football player with a bright future ahead of him,” Reinert said of Pizzella. “I’m proud of our defense the way we responded. To shut them out in the second half is a testament to their work.”

Servite opened the game with a quick six-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Carr.

Notre Dame responded immediately with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Pizzella to Tre Fernandez on its first play from scrimmage to tie the game.

Allen Kennett took some snaps at quarterback for Servite and ran for a touchdown late in the first quarter to give the Friars a 14-7 lead.

Kennett, a freshman, ran for 31 yards on three carries with two touchdowns.

Carr ran for his second touchdown of the game early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 21.

Notre Dame went on a 10-0 run before halftime on a 38-yard field goal by William Weisberg and a 6-yard touchdown run by Pizzella to make the score 21-17. Pizzella’s touchdown run was set up by a fumble recovery from Storer Nalin.

Servite’s defense got a safety on the second play of the third quarter when a snap sailed over Pizzella’s head and went through the back of the endzone.

Gavin Gutierrez ran for a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Carr converted a 2-point attempt to make the score 31-17. Gutierrez ran for 91 yards on 9 carries with a touchdown.

Kennett ran for a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the Friars.

Isaiah Leilua, Tomas Cernius, Brayden Kim, Sevelino Taliauli and Elijah Rincon each had sacks for Servite. Cernius recovered a fumble on a sack by Rincon in the fourth quarter.

Elliot Cooper had 100 yards receiving for Notre Dame on seven receptions. Fernandez had 98 yards on four receptions.

Nalin and Chris Colon had fumble recoveries for the Knights and Preston Webb had an interception.