State team of the year …
December 22nd, 2009, 12:19 pm · · posted by Steve Fryer
Servite was in the running … so was De La Salle of Concord, and Oceanside … the winner:
De La Salle of Concord is the choice, by calhisports.com.
DLS beat Crenshaw in the Open Division game, in the CIF State Championship Bowl Games on Saturday. DLS looked good — but was trailing in that game until Crenshaw’s best offensive player, RB DeAnthony Thomas, missed the second half because of an ankle injury after scoring two TDs in the first half. Coach Bob Ladoceur told calhisports.com that this year’s DLS offense and defense were as good as any he has had there, and that’s a heck of an endorsement (Ladoceur is not one to give unjustified praise).
Servite was the runnerup, according to calhisports.com exectuive editor Mark Tennis. My reaction: Servite played the toughest schedule in the state, and the toughest I’ve seen, and beat every team on that schedule, won the championship of the best division in California — the Pac-5 Division — and won a state championship.
In Tennis’ email about the selection, he remarked that if Servite, which beat Rocklin, 33-30, on a final-play field goal, had held onto the 20-point lead the Friars had in the third quarter, or won by more, than Servite probably would have been named state team of the year.
Too bad it was not Servite-De La Salle in the Open Division game, although Crenshaw did what it had to do to represent SoCal in that game.
I told Servite coach Troy Thomas yesterday that I figured De La Salle would be the pick.
It is the sixth time DLS has been state team of the year in football. I really have no problem with it. As the late-great David Osterman of the Register used to say, when we picked athletes of the year or all-OC teams, “Can you defend it?” And the De La Salle selection can be defended. But a Servite selection could have been defended, too …
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Well, it’s official that DLS beat out Servite for the state title of #1 and the statement by Mark Tennis(Cal Hi Exec Director) that it came down to Servite not holding on to a 30-10 lead was the determing factor, speaks volumes. Another weak decision, backed up by another innocuous reason, that the Friars didn’t play two out of state opponents that were ranked! My God, what a slap in the face to Edison, MV, Poly, et al. And then another insidious comparison of DLS’s league competition being every bit as tough as the Trinity! B.S.!! At least two of Servite’s opponents were capable of taking down DLS and the easy path was taken in denying the Friars the opportunity to play in the Open Div. game!
Anyone that has played highly competitive sports in a do or die situation, week in and week out, knows how tough it is to maintain that focus and nobody did it better than Servite. To minimize their season long efforts, by the fact that Rocklin was able to fight back and tie, doesn’t bode well for future considerations. So, now we influence teams to run up the score! That’s a smart way to get the most out of programs like Servite, that respect the efforts of teams that may not have the same focus or talent. Pitiful reasoning! Tell me of non-biased legitimate criteria, please!
The Guild thinks it’s time for a different entity to expend efforts to form a system of determining a true state champ…oh, that would be a playoff in the true sense, but alas, the powers that be, namely the CIF Playoff Commitee chooses to sit on their hands and then wipe away the notion! Sad that Ca. won’t come up with a true playoff system like Texas, Fla, Pa, OK. and others are able to accomplish. It only leads to biased, “politically correct” motivation by “family” run totem makers like Cal Hi Sports.
CREDO
This #1 ranking doesnt mean anything. It is a ranking based on opinion, not an actual game that took place to determine the winner. DSL won the Open game Isnt that the game for the best of No Cal and So Cal.
I am a Servite fan. It would be nice to say,we are #1 in the state.
I will take a win over MD instead of the #1 ranking
I will take a CIF champsion instead of the #1 ranking
I will take the state D II title instead of the #1 ranking
I would take Fajardo back for 1 more year instead of a #1 ranking
Let the pencil pushers make some arbitrary decision. Servite will continue to forge young men that play football.
Credo!!
Merry Christmas
Guild, It’s been a good year. Don’t get greedy. To be spoken in the same breath as what Ladoceur feels ” was as good as defense or offense as we’ve had here” speaks volumns. have a shot of tequila
and put it to rest. There’s always next year.
How quickly a loss throws a team out of memory. Have to give De La Salle the top team in the state as they where very impressive. The idea of Servite being the top team is ridiculous! I know the Pac 5; well really the PAC 5 top to bottom was a little on the down side this year. I hear you the playoff wins where superb but remember they got past Mission Viejo because Mission Viejo cannot kick extra points and they got past Edison on a rain drenced day. Oceanside which might have the best defense in the state does not get the week to week competion in San Diego (yet; teams are getting better in area-see Mission Hills win over Tesoro and Francis Parker over ST. Margaret) that is required to win award. Crenshaw really should be the team recognized as the second best team in State. they did give De La Salle everything it could handle and really had the edge up until DeAnthony Thomas was injured. But all in all the correct team won the award.
Sorry Louie, but what’s ridiculous is the reasoning that the Cal Hi Exec Dir gave, which will play to more teams running up the score and minimal use of subs. Is that a promotion of sportsmanship? Me thinks not! Until the last two teams left in a legitimate playoff compete against each other, then there will remain dicontent amongst the fanbase. And you sir, don’t know the Pac 5, as any of at least three teams could have played in a winning manner against DLS! PERIOD!
Guild- You’re a bitter brother. However, Servite had a great arguement to be no. 1. If they would have blown out Rocklin, (like they did in the first half), it would have been hard to deny them the no. 1 state ranking.
But, the no. 1 team usually goes to the Open Div. winner. That’s why it’s so important to get selected to that game instead of the DIV I or DIV II. Was Crenshaw deserving? yes, was Servite deserving? yes. Both had great arguements for the Open Div. game. When DLS won that game I guarantee they felt they were the best team in the state, and unfortunately, so did Cal Hi sports.
A better bitter brother, brother!
Well, it was based on one guys opinion.
Me personally, I’m very satisfied with what Servite has accomplished:
Out right Trinity League champ (undefeated in league as well)
CIF PAC 5 Champ
State Champ
And of course…Beat Mater Dei. WOOHOO
Life is good
Guild -
If this makes you feel better, RIVALS has Serite ranked 6th in the NATION.
And our state champs DLS….#39
hahaha
http://highschool.rivals.com/viewrankhs.asp?ra_key=646
If there’s any consulation, MAXPREPS listed Servite as No. 4 in the country, and Rivals.com listed Servite as No. 6 nationally. In both those National polls, Servite is the highest ranking California team. Rivals had DLS as no. 39 nationally? Yet, CAL HI sports has them no. 1 in the state, go figure.
I am so impressed with the men at Servite. They were challenged every week and rose to the occasion. This was not a group of players built around a few superstars, buth rather a group of men who united as one to become a team that could play with anyone. When a great player fell, another player stood in his place and picked up the slack. They won because they understood what brotherhood is, and deserve everything that came their way.. CREDO
The Guild is in great spirits, all my friends! It is in my nature to question those with self-imposed, definitive authority. Part of what makes the Guild is to shake the bushes that want to be treated as redwoods! Spare the rod…not me!
My late grandfather on my father’s side once told me, “One must always have another checkin’ the checker!”
Peace
CREDO
I’ll take a pac 5 CIF Championship over a stoopid state championship. Servite plays with class and (although it didn’t happen on Saturday) Coach Thomas will NEVER run a score up and humiliate an opponent (like MV does).. If SoS isn’t taken into account and De La Salle lost 2 games how the heck does that equal #1? I will never understand new math.
De La Salle did in fact lose 2 games at the beginning of the season, but you should also take into consideration the teams they lost to. They lost to the #1 team in the country and a perennial Florida powerhouse by 1 point. Servite is deserving, but De La Salle beat the team it was presented in the open championship. They did what they had to do and took care of business, and they have every right to claim the #1 ranking.
To those who say that De La Salle didn’t take charge until after Black Mamba left the game must not have witnessed the game. The Black Mamba went out making a TD saving tackle on the 1 yard line. De La Salle tied the game at 14 on the next play. De La Salle is a team built on discipline and conditioning, and they get stronger as the game goes on.
Also, please don’t say Servite allowed Rocklin back in the game because they were concerned with good sportsmanship. That is laughable. Running up the score was never even an option at that point with so much time left in the game. Servite let their foot off the peddle and Rockling took advantage. If it weren’t for a missed PAT by Rocklin, we wouldn’t even be having this debate.
Congrats to Servite for beating Mater Dei (a team which De La Salle has beaten several times), which seems to be more important to some of you than the state championhsip. I know it’s been a while since you can make that claim.
Congrats to DLS for their recognition. Now, how about giving Servite some deserved recognition by asking DeLacouer why he has turned down the Friars request for a preseason game for the last 4 yrs!
Anyone. Anytime. Anyplace.
Take that back up wit ya ‘nocal”.
CREDO
They’ve played some pretty bad ass teams in the pre-season over the last four years. Don’t take it personally. Besides, whats a better road
trip, Socal or cross country?
to “The Guild:”
I haven’t heard that Servite requested a preseason game for the last 4 years, but should that be true, here are the reasons.
There are several teams that would like to play DLS and there are only so many open dates. Grant fans were complaining that they had offered games to DLS, but DLS was chicken. Grant had never and still hasn’t even won 2 section titles in a row. DLS offered a home and home series starting next season and Grant turned DLS down, by recently quoting Grant’s coach Alberghini in the Sacramento Bee.
Why would DLS want to play Servite, who went 7-4, 9-2, 8-3 and 9-4 from 2008 to 2005. Servite lost those years to Mater Dei 42-21, 38-13,
28-22 and 35-17. Try beating MD twice in a row before you imply that DLS is chicken to play you. Heck, DLS beat MD four games in a row. You only beat them this year.
You make valid points “stan’scrypt’ and I understand the proud heritage that DLS has established over the past 20 yrs and I also have an understanding that” to the victor go the spoils”.
That being said, my sources tell me that DeLacouer was asked by Tennis, who would you prefer to play? Now, being the rational and experienced (player, coach, parent, alum) man that The Guild is, I have my doubts as to the veracity of this outrageous rumor. Now, I have never intimated that DLS is “chicken” of any other program, but, time will tell and many Servite alums will be there to support the Friars whenever and wherever.
Merry Christmas!
One last idea. Form your own “guild” to replace CalHi sports. Call
it the “football Guild”. Remember the Golden rule. The man with gold
makes the rules.
Damn Gorilla, I’m already adding a new wing to the old school so that they can add 100 or so frosh to each of the next few years enrollment and ,thereby placing the Friars into the proper playoff criteria for Div 1 status!
This new position of Director of Fund Raising for Special Guild Projects is gonna force The Guild to put on a sports coat, toss the Tommy Bahama shirts aside and defer my Don Julio imbibement til the coming summer!
Oh well, it’s a higher calling and me thinks it would bode well for many to come…..now, back to my shot glass and NCIS!
Stanleyscript,
You exposed a point that we all failed to recognize, Servite didn’t become a perennial power until this year. Our Good friend Guild,
caught up in his irrrational exuberance, had us all believing Servite
was playing Texas for the national championship, not Bama.
Nevertheless, It happens to all of us. There was so much pent
up, ” we needed this badly anxiety” after suffering 20 years of Rollo
and company, who could balme him. After all was said and done,
It would have served all had Servite and D.L.S. hooked up for the Open. Crenshaw, although talented enough to be given free things at U.S.C. ( cars to drive, cash etc.) just didn’t have what real contenders have, great coaching, discipline, technique, etc…, the things needed to be great. Had the two private schools met, Servite wouldn’t have gave up a twenty ( they wouldn’t have a 20 point lead to begin with, thereby wiping that problem out) point lead. They would have had more motivation to keep the peddle to the metal.
Magillasperspective
Politics…..Politics….Politics…..if you have to go out of state to loose 2 games….to receive #1……….if you have to run up a score…….every game……..to be voted #1………..please let De La Salle have it……….. without taking anything else into consideration? Yes….they were a good team….congrats!! The Servite community knows who is #1. Great year men!
Louie………….your saying Edison can’t play in rain.Mission Viejo cannot kick……so Servite deserves no credit. Okay! They beat all these teams in the pac 5 and cif because they were given the title,wins,etc. Tell that to all the teams they played. What an insult to the other OC/LA teams. Ofcourse your the expert……..
Thank you #24 of Rocklin. Your hand dance is the reason why the momentum shifted in the first place. Cif needs to make it public what the penalties will be for #24. The following 8 minutes were obviously Rocklin’s only way to get back in. That was Servite’s first punt after that BS…….. Retaliation? Servite, don’t worry about the polls! We would beat DLS too. We would be the underdogs in that one too. They should do a poll to see if the public thinks DLS would win in that matchup. Nevermind, Servite would still be the underdogs judging by what our own county thinks of us.
It was a great season. Servite had lot’s of tough competition. To even keep it close with these teams is a tribute to Servite. Servite had one lackluster game but getting even was sweet. Especially because it was the finals. Let’s do it again next year. We should feel happy to get to be underdogs again next year. It is the secret to hour success. Let the haters hate, We shall grow stonger from it. As far as the polls go, how could we know if we are the best unless we play every single team. Polls are lame. I will take the Ws on our local trashtalkers over rankings any day.
tonyz you need to join the guild at margeritaville,maybe you guys can find a matching pair of flip flops. you guys had a great run so enjoy it.but no cal is right.I was wrong all year on you guys,I will admit, but theres not a chance in hell you would beat the catholics from no cal.guild says you let rocklin back in when you coulda ran up score.b/s you also let crespi back in and dont tell me like the guild would that the subs were in ,you never put your subs in period!!!you guys looked great in beating edison in the rain,but could you do it again on a sunny day,I think not.as for lasalle not wanting to sched you,why should they. youve got one year under your bely and now your willing to take on the prince of the world as biblical scholars refer to satan,well good luck.I heard from your freshmen basketball folks your frosh football were teible so how do you reload,since you dont give out finacial aid,do you? fajardo was great this year and deserving of all accolades as was nichols but who replaces them,never saw cody come out of a game. and you say they wont play you,well la habra is playing a trinity preseason sched in 2010 and from what Ive heard still have a slot open because the other mighty pac 5s wont play them including you. so dont whine about no cal team when you wont play the best of the less as your boys at oc varsity seem to think of d6. and one last thing in regards to that remember when mission viejo?
Trinity League champs for 5 cons. years. And counting. Talk to the hand. But Merry X-Mas. It’s just a game. We will play whoever wants to play. Bring it. You know it will be a battle. Are you up for it? If so, then take it to the field.
Trinity League Champs
Pac 5 Champs
Division II State Champs
10 ten in the Nation!
Guild…let’s stop the whining and just feel good what these young men have done for the Servite Family! These little petty gripes come across as being poor winners!
OOPS! Can’t spell…should be TOP TEN in the Nation…
There you go again Stanscript ….you seem to be on other blogs with the Grant, Grant, Grant song. If they haven’t won two section titles in a row, why offer to play them? And please, don’t mention fans. If you feel Grant isn’t “worthy” why did DLS make the call? Don’t even try to diss other teams accomplishments . It’s childish. Servite’s a great team, so is Grant, so is DLS. Might play, might not. So what?
Congrats Servite. Great game.
To all Servite Family and Friends and detractors,
It is my belief, that whether or not one is a supporter or opponent of the Servite Friar program, we are all fans of high school football and the life lessons and values that are derived by the competitors themselves. The bonding of teammates, the experiences (both exhaltative and forlorn) and their accumulative toll, the accolades bestowed, the trials and tribulations of making a positive impact, are all reasons to applaud.
We are all from families. We are expectant, supportive, defensive, critical, and enablers of others in our family. There are distinctive rolls and natural placement of selective accountability issues that are played out within and energy levels rise and fall with successes and failures. We complain when things don’t go our way or when another member of the family gets what we felt we were more deserving of, mostly attention.
The same growth and maturing process occurs in the building of a high school football team. One would equate great family background with great success on the field of play. It isn’t always what it seems. Some participants don’t come from the same family background and there are plenty of dysfunctional influences in this day and age. The ingredient that we all need, to apply our best efforts, day in and day out, is LOVE.
The love that we all seek on this venue is the recognition of our wants and needs for our sons, brothers, nephews, cousins, grandsons, friends, neighbors, alumns, et al. It is all well intended and comes from the spirit of fanaticism, with a few exceptions.
The Guild embraces the same passions that you all do and despite my “irrational exuberance”, there is respect for all of those that take the time to compose their thoughts and feelings (except for those espousing the prowess of the DW !) on this site. My apologies are extended to any and all that may have been “spanked”, as it is always in the spirit of fun.
My humble assessments and critiques are not intended to eminate from any dark side or bitterness and my apologies to any of the Servite family that believes or feels that my diatribes are whining in nature. The Guild does have pride and doesn’t wish to unduly cause pain or embarassment to others, only to keep others thoughts accountable, in a true context…most of the time. Sorry for any misunderstandings.
In closing, God bless all and my prayers for success and understanding for everyone this coming year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
CREDO
Guild Out.
Ma guild a cutty,
Don’t get all snappy, were just funnin with ya. Your so damn sensitive.
You get all bent out shape then start doggin the famed D.W. As I
said before, a shot of tequilla.
Touche’!
What does tequila have to do with hs football?
It’s all good Tonyza. It’s an” inside” sorta thing between the Gorilla and The Guild, but since you asked…the similarities are striking.
Like the effects of a well applied hit from a quality player, a shot can be felt the next day and if it was applied with smooth technique, you wouldn’t see it coming…like a blindside. If you get full of yourself and want to challenge, then it can be a big mistake! There are more similarities to share , my Friar friend, but Don Julio calls.
CREDO
Don’t share them here please. I attended Servite. Did you? It’s not all good. I think I know who you are. Don’t attach Servite to alchohol. Comon’ dude. I think I went to Servite with your son. He was cool. Did he transfer in with you? Just call ‘em if you like ‘em. This ain’t the bar. Credo.
Tanya,
Let me buy you a drink and we’ll sit down and talk about it.
Magilladrunk
Anytime, anywhere. Where would you like to buy me a drink? I will be there.
Who put Tonyza in charge? Are you going to threaten to beat me up too Tonyza?
In charge? Of what? Threat? My name isn’t Tanya. But if he wants to discuss it over a drink, I will not decline.
Cherv Glenvin,
She’s gonna put a W.W.F. whoopin on you, then take you out for a drink.
Whathisname- Great take!
The thing about being ranked no. 1 in the state at the end of the year, is that if your school qualifies and is deserving you want to fight for that spot, because for most schools the opportunity doesn’t come very often (unless, your DLS, MD or LBP). Will Servite make it to the top of the heap again next year? I don’t know they played alot of seniors, this might have been a once-in-a-lifetime team. They were great, and gave us great memories that we’ll talk about for a long time. We’ll see how Servite will do next year in the trinity league. Everyone in that league is going to be better. And you know what they say about, pay back. Peace.
5 years of Trinity League Championship, and counting.
Where would you like to meet?
I just can’t let go! I know it’s Christmas Eve but I’m compelled to make this query re: State #1 Team.
I ask, if Servite were the team that went out of state for one game vs a top ten ranked national and played a home game with a top ten ranked nat’l team and had lost both games and proceeded to plow thru much weaker competition than SC, LBP, MV, and Edison and then played Crenshaw and won, would they have gotten the nod as top team in the state?
DLS was awarded on reputation and politics. Think about it.
CREDO
I am a Northern Californian. I live in Napa just north of San Francisco. Of course I was rooting for Rocklin. However, regardless of how it was achieved, Servite won the game and played the best schedule defeating the best teams it could play. They don’t have to go out of state to play top nationally ranked teams. DeLaSalle is notorious for ignoring the top teams in California for national exposure. Hope Southern Cal fans will be happy to know that the rest of Northern California away from the Concord and San Francisco Bay view Servite as the true 2009 State Championship Team. Mark Tennis is considered a biased idiot by all around Nor Cal except his immediate area. CalHisports has alumni and connections to DeLaSalle so is biased in their views. DeLaSalle has been deservedly the National model in the past for High School Football. They have a first class group at the school and are deserving of all alocades. However, this year, It was definitely Servite’s turn, hands down. Rumor has it that it is in the works for the Friars and DeLaSalle to play in 2010. I hope they come to Spartan’s stadium and kick DeLaSalle all the way back to the East Coast where they can laud themselves all they want..Good luck and hope you repeat(unless you play my Napa Indians) in the future.
Love, Peace, and Respect from Northern California..