MISSION VIEJO — The Serra Padres didn’t need to be reminded what they were up against Saturday night in the Open Division state championship game. They already got the notice when Mater Dei ambushed them for three quick touchdowns in the first quarter on its way to a 44-7 victory.
But just before halftime, as if anyone needed more proof, the Santa Ana powerhouse showed why nobody was better across the nation this high school football season than the talent-rich Monarchs.
Petelo Gi was gone.
The Serra running back charged through a hole on fourth-and-1 near midfield and had nothing but a patch of green Saddleback College turf to the red-colored end zone.
As Gi approached the goal line, defensive back Cameron Sidney made a diving lunge for the runner’s legs and brought him down at the 3. The Padres ran three more plays but didn’t get into the end zone before time expired to end the half.
“Everything happened fast,” Gi said. “I got the ball, I saw a hole and I just took off. I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t even think it was real. I’m like, ‘I’m still running.’ I started remembering everything, ‘What?’ I just wish I was a tad bit faster.”
Mater Dei held its 24-point advantage and went on to capture its third California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state championship, completing an undefeated season marred by public backlash after recent allegations of a locker-room hazing incident in February and the alleged beating of a Mater Dei student by two of the school’s football players at a gathering in Irvine in 2019.
Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson didn’t talk to reporters after the game. The longtime coach was carried off the field by his players.
Serra coach Patrick Walsh, whose team was appearing in its first Open Division game, spoke with pride as he discussed the effort his players gave on the field against an opponent filled with major-college prospects.
“I love my team,” Walsh said. “I wouldn’t want to coach at any other place in the planet. I love my kids. I love their fight. I love my coaches. I love being a Padre. High school football is more than just hoisting trophies. At Serra High School, we believe in what we do, and we build men. We got a step closer to becoming men tonight.”
Serra wanted to run to control the clock and shorten possessions. The Padres ran 10 plays on their first series, converted two third-downs and punted to the Mater Dei 6 when the drive stalled.
Not bad.
Except for that three plays later Elijah Brown lofted a deep ball that Cooper Barkate caught in stride on his way to the end zone, holding the ball out with one hand the final 10 yards. The 78-yard completion made it 7-0.
The advantage widened to 14-0 three snaps into Serra’s next series when linebacker Malaki Teo returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown.
Another Serra turnover deep its own end — a fumble this time — led to another Mater Dei touchdown. Raleek Brown’s 1-yard run extended the lead to 21-0 with 1:31 left in the first quarter. The running back is a transfer from Edison-Stockton.
At that point, it seemed as if Mater Dei (12-0) would name its score.
But Serra (11-2) didn’t stop fighting. It limited the possessions in the second quarter, yielding just a 32-yard field goal by Chase Meyer after a long Mater Dei drive, and had a chance to take some momentum into the locker room.
But Sidney, a Cal commit, chased down Gi and then made another touchdown-saving tackle two plays later, bringing down Joseph Latu at the 1 after the running back made a catch in the right flat.
With three seconds on the clock, Serra went for a touchdown from the 1 and didn’t convert.
The score stayed 24-0.
“It would have been a nice exclamation point going in,” Walsh said. “But, you know, we could have tapped out so many times in this game, and we didn’t. That’s something to be proud of.
“They’re the best combination of everything,” Walsh added about Mater Dei. “They care. They play hard. They’re uniquely talented, and they’re well-coached. When all that comes together, you’re the No. 1 team in the country.”
Raleek Brown’s 3-yard run midway through the third quarter stretched the margin to 31-0. Dominque Lampkin’s 18-yard keeper accounted for Serra’s only score. It cut the margin to 31-7 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
“It’s crazy,” Lampkin said. “I can say I scored against the No. 1 team in the country. That’s a great experience to say. I wish I could say we did a lot more than that.”
Inside the Serra locker room, the player hugged one another for a final time. There were tears. There were more memories to cherish in a season filled with many of them.
“No matter what, we never gave up,” Gi said. “We loved each other. We still kept our heads up. Usually, teams will tap out. We didn’t tap out. We just had fun. That’s what it is all about. It doesn’t matter about anything else.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com