Serra High’s football team remembered last year when it was the CIF-Southern Section Western Division playoffs’ top seed, then saw itself blow a 14-0 second quarter lead in a 21-14 upset loss to Culver City at Serra.
In the first round of the Western Division playoffs at home against Oxnard, the Cavaliers very quickly saw to it that it did not happen, again.
Serra compiled a 35-0 halftime lead, then expanded it to 49-0 by early in the third quarter, then coasted to a 49-14 victory over the Yellowjackets.
Serra High’s football team remembered last year when it was the CIF-Southern Section Western Division playoffs’ top seed, then saw itself blow a 14-0 second quarter lead in a 21-14 upset loss to Culver City at Serra.
In the first round of the Western Division playoffs at home against Oxnard, the Cavaliers very quickly saw to it that it did not happen, again.
Serra compiled a 35-0 halftime lead, then expanded it to 49-0 by early in the third quarter, then coasted to a 49-14 victory over the Yellowjackets.
The Cavaliers, who increased their record to 9-2 after finishing second behind West Hills Chaminade in the Mission League, poured it on Oxnard just about right from the start.
Serra’s first touchdown came with under two minutes into the game on an 8-yard run by Marques Rodgers.
An 8-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Jalen Greene to wide receiver Tyler Martin gave the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead with 2:31 left in the first period.
Serra added three more touchdowns in the second quarter and two more in just 2:25 into the third period before clearing the bench and finishing the game with running time.
Speedy back Adoree Jackson gave the Cavaliers a 21-0 lead early in the second period on a 35-yard scoring run. Other Serra second quarter TDs included a 38-yard run by Greene and a 34-yard pass from Greene to wide receiver Jordan Lasley.
Starting out the second half, sophomore Malik Roberson took the opening kickoff and sprinted 77 yards for a touchdown.
The Cavaliers’ last score was accomplished on a 25-yard pass from sophomore backup quarterback Deontay Burnett to Rodgers before head coach Scott Altenberg cleared the bench even more and the rest of the contest was on a mercy rule running time.
Despite the running time, Oxnard, which ended its season at 7-4 after finishing second behind champion Camarillo in the Pacific View League, was able to score two TDs against Serra reserves on with the passing combination of quarterback Pablo Cantos and receiver Bryant Stewart connecting from 55 and 20 yards.
“We’re a good football team,” Altenberg said. “Our defense played great, again. I am proud of our effort.”
The Cavaliers, who are the playoffs’ No. 4 seed, held the Yellowjackets to just 37 total offensive yards in the first half, while accumulating 320 themselves.
Greene had a very good all-around effort completing 11 of 14 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and running for 86 yards and one TD on five carries.
Roberson rushed for 77 yards on eight carries.
The only bad side of Serra was a rash of penalties as it was flagged 15 times for 125 yards and had one touchdown on a kickoff return nullified.
Next for the Cavaliers will be what should be a showdown between them and Ocean League champion Santa Monica Friday at 7 p.m. at Serra.
The Vikings went unbeaten at 5-0 in Ocean play and easily won their first round game against Templeton, 44-0, last Friday at Santa Monica City College.
Santa Monica is led by returning University of Southern California-bound all-American wide receiver Sebastian LaRue and Serra transfer quarterback Ryan Barbarian.
Like Serra, the Vikings are very athletic with very good team speed.
