An interesting game to be sure and also a nail-biter for many anxious Serra fans in a game that was much closer than the score indicates.
The only thing similar to the first game between the 2 teams was the final score differential: first game Serra 35-7 [+28], second game rematch Serra 41-14 [+27].
Coming off blow-out wins of 57-7 over Palma and 57-21 over Salinas in consecutive weeks most Serra fans were expecting a somewhat easy win in a replay match with the Monarchs.
MItty coming off its 2 O/T wins vs Los Gatos & St. Francis came into the game fired-up and was even with Serra 7-7 at the 1/2 time intermission. In the first game 2 months ago between
the teams Serra led 14-0 at the 1/2, 21-0 in the 3rd and 28-0 at the start of the 4th in a more one-sided game, Mitty's only score coming in the 4th with the game decided. The rematch for the
CCS Div I title proved more difficult for the Padres and MItty gave Serra all it could handle for 3 quarters before finally wearing down. Whether it was Mitty's D or Serra's passing offense simply having an "off night" [or both] Serra was not able to get its passing game going to any degree. Not sure of any stats for Serra but I would guess the passsing yardage was well under 100 yards based on several short catches. Mitty's QB Wills Towers on the other hand was spectacular as were his 3 WR's. Towers completed pass after pass even under constant pressure and his WR's were catching anything close to them. The 3 WR's accounted for over 300+ yard receiving with Butler 106, Scudero 102 & Kim 96 yards. Kim in particular had several "replay" quality catches with defenders in close coverage. Scudero had a number of good grabs as did Butler including a beauty along the sidelines to convert a 3rd and long. Mitty converted numerous 3rd and longs under pressure and their pass game was clicking on all cylinders.
In the 2nd 1/2 with Serra receiving the Padres went to their double-wing run game and on the 2nd play broke a 61-yard TD by RB Danny Niu. What was puzzling was after finding immediate success with that formation Serra reverted back to its same offensive scheme that had struggled all evening [?]. Serra missed the PAT after Niu's long run for TD and score 13-7 early 3rd qtr. Serra's Jaden Green then broke off a 41-yard run to set up Serra's next TD with a 5-yard run by Joseph Latu to go up 20-7 [Serra's Latu had 101 yards rushing on just 10 carries for the Padres]. On Mitty's next possession Towers connected with Butler over the middle for a 65 yard pass to set up Mitty's 2nd TD to Scudero for a score of Serra 20-14 to head into the 4th where the Padres finally took control scoring 3 unanswered TD's for the final score 41-14.
This game did not resemble the Palma or Salinas games in any way and was a hard fought win for the Padres. Mitty looked good last night and looked like the #2 team in CCS.
The only thing similar to the first game between the 2 teams was the final score differential: first game Serra 35-7 [+28], second game rematch Serra 41-14 [+27].
Coming off blow-out wins of 57-7 over Palma and 57-21 over Salinas in consecutive weeks most Serra fans were expecting a somewhat easy win in a replay match with the Monarchs.
MItty coming off its 2 O/T wins vs Los Gatos & St. Francis came into the game fired-up and was even with Serra 7-7 at the 1/2 time intermission. In the first game 2 months ago between
the teams Serra led 14-0 at the 1/2, 21-0 in the 3rd and 28-0 at the start of the 4th in a more one-sided game, Mitty's only score coming in the 4th with the game decided. The rematch for the
CCS Div I title proved more difficult for the Padres and MItty gave Serra all it could handle for 3 quarters before finally wearing down. Whether it was Mitty's D or Serra's passing offense simply having an "off night" [or both] Serra was not able to get its passing game going to any degree. Not sure of any stats for Serra but I would guess the passsing yardage was well under 100 yards based on several short catches. Mitty's QB Wills Towers on the other hand was spectacular as were his 3 WR's. Towers completed pass after pass even under constant pressure and his WR's were catching anything close to them. The 3 WR's accounted for over 300+ yard receiving with Butler 106, Scudero 102 & Kim 96 yards. Kim in particular had several "replay" quality catches with defenders in close coverage. Scudero had a number of good grabs as did Butler including a beauty along the sidelines to convert a 3rd and long. Mitty converted numerous 3rd and longs under pressure and their pass game was clicking on all cylinders.
In the 2nd 1/2 with Serra receiving the Padres went to their double-wing run game and on the 2nd play broke a 61-yard TD by RB Danny Niu. What was puzzling was after finding immediate success with that formation Serra reverted back to its same offensive scheme that had struggled all evening [?]. Serra missed the PAT after Niu's long run for TD and score 13-7 early 3rd qtr. Serra's Jaden Green then broke off a 41-yard run to set up Serra's next TD with a 5-yard run by Joseph Latu to go up 20-7 [Serra's Latu had 101 yards rushing on just 10 carries for the Padres]. On Mitty's next possession Towers connected with Butler over the middle for a 65 yard pass to set up Mitty's 2nd TD to Scudero for a score of Serra 20-14 to head into the 4th where the Padres finally took control scoring 3 unanswered TD's for the final score 41-14.
This game did not resemble the Palma or Salinas games in any way and was a hard fought win for the Padres. Mitty looked good last night and looked like the #2 team in CCS.
