Servite 31, SM 27, (MISSION VIEJO, Nov., 12, 1999)

Adam Ernst's 5-yard run with 10 seconds left lifted the Servite Friars to an exciting 31-27 win over the Eagles before 6,000 at Saddleback College. Although the outcome put both teams at 6-4 overall and in a three-way tie with St. John Bosco at 1-2 in league play the Eagles won an "odd-man-in" coin flip for the Serra League's second guaranteed playoff entry for their 10th trip to the playoffs in 11 years. After Servite opened with a quick score the Eagles needed only one play to score themselves as junior QB Matt Dlugolecki hit former QB turned WR Chris Rix on a go route for a 69-yard touchdown and a 7-6 lead. Justin Domineck's three-yard run at the 10:40 mark of the second quarter put the Friars up 12-6, but another Dlugolecki-to-Rix score, this time from 40 yards out at the 8:24 mark of the second quarter, put the Eagles ahead 14-12. A Steve Ayers field goal from 45 yards out gave the Friars a 15-14 halftime lead. Rix's third touchdown on an eight-yard run at the 11:53 mark of the fourth quarter gave the Eagles a 20-15 lead, but Servite responded with 13-play drive finished off by Chad Bystedt two-yard run with 5:55 left to give the Friars a 23-20 lead. The Eagles then marched 66 yards on seven plays capped by Jimmy Herzog's two-yard run with 2:56 left to put Santa Margarita in front 27-23. Servite then went 65 yards on eight plays capped by Ernst's touchdown to seal their victory. Rix has an outstanding all around game as he caught five passes for 186 yards and led the team with 41 yards rushing on only three carries. Dlugolecki completed nine of 17 passes for 215 yards and two scores in his first full game of the season. Defensively, senior LB Matt Szkalak posted a career-high 22 tackles - the second most in school history - to lead the defensive effort while junior LB Matt Vogel added in a career-high 15 tackles.