PREP EXTRA: ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Servite Pulls Away in Second Half : Football: Friars capitalize on Valencia mistakes in 35-14 nonleague victory.

PLACENTIA — Servite’s 35-14 nonleague victory over Valencia Friday night was closer than it appeared, but the Friars capitalized on some mistakes to turn it into a one-sided affair.

Sophomore running back Vince Reed rushed for 103 yards in 12 carries, and seniors Brian Brennan and Dan Rubalcava each scored two touchdowns as Servite pulled away at Valencia High.

But Servite (2-1), ranked eighth in Orange County, needed a key interception and a Valencia fumble to help make the difference.

With 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter and the score tied, 7-7, Valencia punter Jeff Waite bobbled a fourth-down snap and Servite’s Chris Bailey tackled him at the Tiger 12-yard line, giving Servite possession on downs.

Three plays later, Brennan caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Greg Cicero, and Matt Montgomery’s conversion made it 14-7.

Servite linebacker Matt Paul ended Valencia’s next drive, intercepting Eric Young’s third-down pass at the Tiger 30 before returning it to the one.

Rubalcava scored his second touchdown on the next play and the Friars had a comfortable 21-7 lead with 10 minutes 48 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

“We were very lucky,” Servite Coach Larry Toner said. “We weren’t real crisp, but we got out on top early.”

Servite started strong when Reed took the first play from scrimmage and rambled 69 yards to the Valencia one. Rubalcava scored on the next play to make it 7-0.

But besides Reed’s opening run, the Friars managed only 56 yards rushing in 27 carries. Servite’s passing game was opportunistic; Cicero completed only six of 18 passes for 82 yards.

Valencia (0-2) mustered only two scoring drives. Trailing 7-0, the Tigers answered with a 65-yard drive that Alan Manning capped by catching a pass in the left flat and racing 26 yards for a touchdown.

Manning scored all 14 points for Valencia and he tried to keep the Tigers close. On Valencia’s opening possession of the second half, Manning caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Young with 10:48 remaining in the third quarter to make it 21-14.

But that was as close as the Tigers would get.

Servite drove 70 yards in seven plays on its next possession with Brennan catching a 25-yard touchdown pass. Servite added one more score late in the game when senior Vince Melendez had an 11-yard touchdown run with eight seconds remaining.