High school football top 10: Serra clinches at least a tie for WCAL title

At Serra, the nine Central Coast Section titles are greatly appreciated as are the three straight appearances in state Open Division games starting in 2021. And the Padres’ fans can’t forget the program’s lone state crown in 2017.

But when it comes to true championships, Serra covets West Catholic Athletic League banners and it sewed up another on Saturday with a 49-14 triumph at defending champion Riordan.

The Crusaders (6-3, 5-1) played without UNLV-bound running back Adonyae Brown (ankle), but even the rugged senior surely could not have prevented the Padres from clinching at least a tie for coach Patrick Walsh’s 10th WCAL crown since taking over in 2001. Serra clinch the outright title Saturday with a win at home over St. Francis (3-6, 2-4). Serra won just one WCAL crown before Walsh arrived in 2001.

Serra had lost three straight to Riordan, but the Padres raced to a 35-0 lead early in the second quarter, starting with a 75-yard pick-6 from Oregon-bound Malakai Taufoou, who later added a spectacular diving 15-yard TD catch. The Padres put an exclamation point on the win when Kapono Keanaaina (12 rushes, 101 yards) sprinted into the end zone from 55 yards out as the Padres improved to 8-1 and 6-0 in WCAL play.

The brother-to-brother combination of quarterback Jax Cannon (12 of 20, 205 yards, two TDs) to USC-bound tight end Jace Cannon (4 catches, 100 yards) was also effective for the Padres, who piled up 406 yards, almost evenly in the air and ground.

Walsh, the program’s winningest coach with 218 victories, was overjoyed. “We don’t talk about winning as much as service and relationships,” he said. “But when we do, it’s about winning WCAL championships. … It’s a historic league and long after these kids graduate they will be sitting in an establishment in the Bay Area talking about WCAL memories. It’s always satisfying to hang a WCAL banner.

“That said, we’ve suffered some miserable days against St. Francis, so we take nothing for granted. We need to be present and in the moment.” 

The Padres are ranked No. 12 in the state by Sports Illustrated, and suffered their lone loss in their season opener against De La Salle-Concord. But Serra lost three offensive linemen to injury before that defeat by the now-No. 3 team in the state ranked No. 1 in the Bay Area by the Chronicle. Now, with those lineman healthy, the Padres look unbeatable heading into CCS playoff action in two weeks.

Top 10 report

1. De La Salle (9-0, No. 1 last week):The Spartans were focused on fine-tuning in a 56-7 home win over Amador Valley-Pleasanton; the game went to a running clock by the middle of the second quarter. First-year starting quarterback Jaxon Loftin (77 of 102 on season, 1,136 yards, 13 touchdowns, no interceptions) went 7 of 8 for 154 yards and another TD to Damari Dean (20 catches, 529, nine TDs). Next: Friday at Sac-Joaquin Section foe Granity Bay (3-6).

2. Serra (8-1, No. 2 last week):Charlie Walsh, the coach’s senior son, added four catches and 73 yards and a 52-yard touchdown catch and run. Next: Saturday vs. St. Francis (3-6).

3. San Ramon Valley-Danville (8-1, No. 3 last week): The Wolves were without several players, including leading rusher Owen Power, all banged up in previous week’s competitive loss to De La Salle. But junior James Macke was plugged in to rush for 148 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-20 home win over California-San Ramon (5-4). Next: Friday at No. 10 Monte Vista-Danville (8-1).

4. Los Gatos (8-1, No. 4 last week): The Wildcats jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter behind Jack Siri (14 of 19, 169, 3 touchdowns) en route to a 42-20 win over Menlo-Atherton (3-6). Five different players scored touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Wilcox-Santa Clara (4-5).

5. Pittsburg (6-3, No. 5 last week):Sergio Montes rushed for 125 yards and his first varsity touchdowns as the visiting Pirates overcame a pick-6 on the game’s first play by Antioch strong safety Cameren Hubler to register the program’s 74th win, 32-13, in the 108th Big Little Game. All-Metro junior WR/DB Kenneth Ward returned a blocked punt and a regular punt for touchdowns. Next: Friday at Heritage-Brentwood (6-3).

6. Acalanes-Lafayette (8-1, No. 6 last week):Tyler Winkles continued his superb senior season, accounting for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-14 win at Campolindo-Moraga (4-5). Winkles has thrown for 2,698 yards and 32 touchdowns, and rushed for 400 yards and 10 TDs on the season. The Dons have scored at least 35 points in every game this season, including a 42-38 loss to St. Ignatius. Next: Friday vs. Benicia (7-2).

7. Cardinal Newman (7-2, No. 7 last week): Junior running back James Curoso continues to dominate as did the Cardinals, who won their seventh straight with a 42-7 victory at home over St. Vincent de Paul-Petlauma (4-5). Curoso rushed for touchdowns of 82, 35, 48 and 25 yards, giving him 23 on the season, as the Cardinals have now outscored opponents 271-42 in their seven wins. Next: Friday vs. Windsor (8-1).

8. St. Ignatius (7-2, No. 9 last week):An 86-yard pick-six from Maceo Mendoza set the tone for the Wildcats’ 28-14 home win over Valley Christian (3-6). Backup sophomore quarterback Emerson Hummel, filling in for injured starter Isaac Liu, threw touchdown passes to Davion Moffett and Hawkes Packard. Next: Friday vs. Mitty (3-6), coming off a 17-14 win over St. Francis.

9. Riordan (6-3, No. 8 last week): With Brown out, Riordan managed just 25 yards rushing on 22 carries. QB Braxton Larosa completed 19 of his 20 passes to either freshmen or sophomore receivers. Next: Saturday vs. Bellarmine (6-3). 

10. Monte Vista (8-1, No. 10 last week): In a bye week, the school announced that two current NFL players, Rams linebacker Nate Landman and Giants QB Jake Haener, will be part of Monte Vista’s 2026 Hall of Fame Class that will be honored March 25. Both were from the class of 2017. Next: Friday vs. No. 3 San Ramon Valley (8-1).

Briefly: Bellarmine (6-3, 3-3) continued its breakthrough season with a 24-20 home win over Sacred Heart Cathedral (4-5, 2-4). Winless in WCAL play the last two seasons, the Bells got a kickoff return for touchdown by DeWayne Littlepage and long TD receptions by Tim McNeil and Jaeden Harris. … Fresno State-bound running back Lamont McDonald rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns to lead Hayward (5-4) to a 38-36 WACC Foothill win over Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland. … Benicia tuned up for its DAL Foothill title game against Acalanes with a 43-7 win over Clayton Valley Charter-Concord as Preston Wright and Elijah Nelson combined for five touchdowns. … Northgate remained one of two unbeaten Bay Area teams with a 44-0 win at Wheatland (Yuba County) as Maximus Cantrell threw for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns. … Abram Alvarez (153 yards) and Eryck Gualberto (124) each rushed for two touchdowns as visiting Napa (7-2) knocked Analy-Sebastopol (8-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 40-31 victory. … Oliver Ashfield rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns and Branden Kee threw for 180 and two more scores as host Hillsdale-San Mateo (6-3) pulled off a 42-28 upset over Milpitas (7-2), which got three TD passes by Jonah Mati.

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This article originally published at High school football top 10: Serra clinches at least a tie for WCAL title.