From Serra "Padres" newsletter

[Irish_Cheers]

I asked about parking and all I got is that a parking lot wouldn't be cost-effective. I think it would work.
Serra has some parking. I usually find a spot in the neighborhood anyway. (Yes, I know the thread is about the Pads...).

 

[Spartanwhoknows]

Optimism abounds as workouts for fall sports heat up throughout the summer months.
Varsity football won the San Jose State tournament in late June. The Padres started off 0-2, but proceeded to win five in a row against Monte Vista Christian, Pittsburg, Monterey Trail, Edison of Stockton and finally St. Mary's of Stockton in the final.

Returning for Serra this season are All-League standouts Daylin McLemore (QB/DB), Nate Sanchez (RB/S), Nusi Malani (DE), Terence Loville (WR/CB), and Jackson Lataimua (RB/S). Malani has nine college scholarship offers, including Nebraska and Arizona State, while Lataimua is committed to Nevada. Loville has offers from Air Force and New Mexico.

Serra now has 8 Senior players with College offers. 4 from D1 schools.

 

[colhenrylives]

Serra now has 8 Senior players with College offers. 4 from D1 schools.

Serra supporters would hope that at least three of those eight are Division I linemen.

 

[Spartanwhoknows]

Serra supporters would hope that at least three of those eight are Division I linemen.

Nusi Malani D1 and Eison and Azzopardi are close, A few of the Underclass Juniors and Sophs lineman will be D1 for sure.

 

[colhenrylives]

Nusi Malani D1 and Eison and Azzopardi are close, A few of the Underclass Juniors and Sophs lineman will be D1 for sure.

Serra has more than its share of terrific, fast, savvy skill guys. The coaching/preparation is there as well. Linemen are the key if the Padres intend to make a concerted run at another WCAL crown in 2019.

 

[Rmbr26]

"colhenrylives,[/B] post: 238658, member: 968"]Serra has more than its share of terrific, fast, savvy skill guys. The coaching/preparation is there as well. Linemen are the key if the Padres intend to make a concerted run at another WCAL crown in 2019.

Lineman are key yes, however "more than its share of terrific, fast, savvy skill guys" has yet to be seen or proven & after last season I myself am a bit skeptical. Not doubting Colhenry's knowledge as we usually see eye to eye in most things Padre. Here's the deal as I see it. Coaching changes took place last season and certainly we can agree there was no improvement in defense or line play. I'll take it a step further and say that the offense was spectacular against the weaker teams, but rather abysmal against the top tier teams. The games vs VC & 2 games vs SF resulted in shocking blow-out losses for the Padres, which BTW nobody predicted prior to the games. Simply put the Padres offense could not move the ball on the ground or in the air.

So a combination of factors? Lack of coaching, weaker coaching? Lack of talent from several years prior?
Serra had its all-time passing leader in Luke Bottari who crushed most passing records and moved above everyone else in Padre QB history including legend Tom Brady [ie: how could the Padres NOT repeat in 2018 as league champs??].
In 2016 the Serra team had an outstanding team of WR's and and equally exceptional group of RB's and broke numerous records coming up just shy of a state title. In 2017 the Padres had an even better group of returning WR's which was perhaps the best group all-around in WCAL history & has the records to prove it. It was not 1 or 2 exceptional WR's, but 4 which no team who played Serra could contain. So the questions are: 1] can Serra match the RB combo they had is 2016 & 2017 in which my guess is a definite NO. Question #2] can Serra put a group of WR's on the filed anywhere close to 2016 & 2017 and again my guess is not even close. #3] Luke Bottari aka "Cool Hand Luke" has moved on and the Padres may revert more to the run than the all out blitz passing game, so look for lower scoring games.

Anyway too early to tell and likely Colhenry knows more than I do as is the case often. Just going by history and the recent changes among Padre football I am hopeful yet cautious in my aspirations of Serra regaining its position of one of the WCAL's elite powers.

 

[colhenrylives]

It would be fair to speculate that both St. Francis and Serra will be down a tick or two from 2018. Both programs lost some key pieces, the Lancers in particular. That said, Valley Christian appears to be the logical team to beat in 2019. The Warriors continue to add to their stock of talent with annual infusions from their outstanding freshman teams (they have won or shared the last three WCAL titles at that key level). They also have enough returning starters to make a difference. And they have impressive depth. There is some interest in Mitty but that remains to be seen. Bellarmine and the three San Francisco schools are works in progress. So, from this vantage point high on a hill overlooking the Peninsula on a splendid summer morning (with a cup of java in hand), VC is the 2019 pick. Then again, one never knows for sure until the games commence. Time for a re-fill.

 

[Spartanwhoknows]

It would be fair to speculate that both St. Francis and Serra will be down a tick or two from 2018. Both programs lost some key pieces, the Lancers in particular. That said, Valley Christian appears to be the logical team to beat in 2019. The Warriors continue to add to their stock of talent with annual infusions from their outstanding freshman teams (they have won or shared the last three WCAL titles at that key level). They also have enough returning starters to make a difference. And they have impressive depth. There is some interest in Mitty but that remains to be seen. Bellarmine and the three San Francisco schools are works in progress. So, from this vantage point high on a hill overlooking the Peninsula on a splendid summer morning (with a cup of java in hand), VC is the 2019 pick. Then again, one never knows for sure until the games commence. Time for a re-fill.

Serra won the San Jose State 7 on 7 with many wide receivers catching passes from Daylan McClemore, who was according to many there, the best QB of the 16 teams and possibly the best QB at the DLS 7 on 7 tournament. Key wide receivers and slot receivers are D1 Terrence Loville and 6 ft 5 tight end and slot receiver Chris Pederson. They also have a transfer Junior that can fly plus a number of other very capable receivers.

The running backs are returning starter Nate Sanchez, Jackson Lataimua D1 Defense but also excellent RB and Dylan Eaton. McLemore is very mobile so he will gain lots of yards from the QB position. Lots of speed and depth at both RB and receivers.

Valley, St Francis and Serra will battle it out. The WCAL will be lots of fun to watch.

 

[colhenrylives]

Lineman are key yes, however "more than its share of terrific, fast, savvy skill guys" has yet to be seen or proven & after last season I myself am a bit skeptical. Not doubting Colhenry's knowledge as we usually see eye to eye in most things Padre. Here's the deal as I see it. Coaching changes took place last season and certainly we can agree there was no improvement in defense or line play. I'll take it a step further and say that the offense was spectacular against the weaker teams, but rather abysmal against the top tier teams. The games vs VC & 2 games vs SF resulted in shocking blow-out losses for the Padres, which BTW nobody predicted prior to the games. Simply put the Padres offense could not move the ball on the ground or in the air.

So a combination of factors? Lack of coaching, weaker coaching? Lack of talent from several years prior?
Serra had its all-time passing leader in Luke Bottari who crushed most passing records and moved above everyone else in Padre QB history including legend Tom Brady [ie: how could the Padres NOT repeat in 2018 as league champs??].
In 2016 the Serra team had an outstanding team of WR's and and equally exceptional group of RB's and broke numerous records coming up just shy of a state title. In 2017 the Padres had an even better group of returning WR's which was perhaps the best group all-around in WCAL history & has the records to prove it. It was not 1 or 2 exceptional WR's, but 4 which no team who played Serra could contain. So the questions are: 1] can Serra match the RB combo they had is 2016 & 2017 in which my guess is a definite NO. Question #2] can Serra put a group of WR's on the filed anywhere close to 2016 & 2017 and again my guess is not even close. #3] Luke Bottari aka "Cool Hand Luke" has moved on and the Padres may revert more to the run than the all out blitz passing game, so look for lower scoring games.

Anyway too early to tell and likely Colhenry knows more than I do as is the case often. Just going by history and the recent changes among Padre football I am hopeful yet cautious in my aspirations of Serra regaining its position of one of the WCAL's elite powers.

Even great skill guys have problems functioning if their linemen can't handle their bigger, stronger, faster, tougher, conditioned, experienced peers on the other side of the casaba.

 

[colhenrylives]

One more note: Look for Serra's special teams to be very good in 2019. That's been the case for a number of years in San Mateo.

 

[The Heat Miser]

Should be an awesome year in the WCAL. I do believe that VC has the slight edge in the race this year but the beauty of this league is that anything can happen. With Serra it comes down to OL/DL play as well as consistently moving the ball in the big games (SF and VC). With this staff gaining more experience and Walsh working closer with the OL compared to last year it is possible. Pretty crazy to think that last year against Serra’s spread offense VC was able to play a 5 man front with cover 1/0 behind it. Shows how talented that secondary is. Can’t wait for the season!

 

[colhenrylives]

Should be an awesome year in the WCAL. I do believe that VC has the slight edge in the race this year but the beauty of this league is that anything can happen. With Serra it comes down to OL/DL play as well as consistently moving the ball in the big games (SF and VC). With this staff gaining more experience and Walsh working closer with the OL compared to last year it is possible. Pretty crazy to think that last year against Serra’s spread offense VC was able to play a 5 man front with cover 1/0 behind it. Shows how talented that secondary is. Can’t wait for the season!

...not to mention the domination produced by the VC DL pressure on the Serra QB...

 

[colhenrylives]

An apology: The last thing we want to do is to usurp the annual superb work on WCAL football provided by the Midnight Rambler; we await his initial pre-season evaluations and predictions with intense anticipation.

 

[colhenrylives]

Nobody does it better.

 

[jordan24]

Nobody does it better.

Agree.