Prep Spotlight: Serra Runs Past Chaminade

Mission League foes were the headliners for this Friday night lights with rivalry games all over the Southern California, but with a full moon in the background, Serra trampled over the visiting Chaminade Eagles, 36-0. Only 12 points separated these two powerhouses in their last two games against each other.

The two teams split those contests. Even Fox Sports was looking for a nail-biter to showcase on TV. The Eagles’ offense, instead, never shifted into drive, so the Cavaliers kept them in neutral.

A win like this really highlights the Cavilers’ defense, and we all know defenses win championships. Serra zeroed in on Chaminade star running back Donovan Lee and held him to 37 yards on the night. So the only option left was try to pass against this athletic secondary, hoping that quarterback Brad Kaaya, who went 19 of 30 for 184 yards,  could work some magic.

That Cavaliers’ defense was too hot and riding on a wave of excitement, so much so that defensive end Olajuwon Tucker, who verbally committed to USC after the game live on a postgame broadcast. Senior linebacker Dwight Williams like the way the team played.

“It feels great to shut out a good team,” Williams said. “The defense tonight had something to prove.”We“had a great week of practice with film study and game planning that was installed.”

Serra entered the game scoring just under 40 points a game through six games tonight. Cavaliers’ quarterback Jalen Greene guided his teammates to the lopsided victory with his swift feet (8 yards, 1 yard touchdown runs) and his arm  (76 yards, 6 yards touchdown passes).

On the second play of the game, Jordan Lasley made a big play for Serra, and 76 yards later, the Cavilers got on the scoreboard first and they never looked back. Greene had a strong night running the spread zone read,  running the ball 27 times for 131 yards.  Greene also did damage through the air, completing  just  7-of-15 passes for 179 yards.

Serra played a solid game, while it almost seemed like Chaminade  gave up on the game at a certain point in the second half. In the fourth quarter on their own 20-yard line, Chaminade ran a goal line package with 80 yards in front of them to burn some time off the clock. That backfired as the Eagles’ punt team took the field so they could kick the ball back to Serra reserves to finish the game.

Serra improved to 7-0 . Chaminade (5-2, 1-1) will host St. Paul (1-6, 1-1) next Friday.

Jevone Moore

Jevone Moore a writer, photographer by trade and a coach in life at heart. Former UCLA Bruin football player during the good years, City Champs 92-95.