Quick-strike offense, rugged defense lead Serra past Bellarmine and WCAL co-title

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Serra (San Mateo) football coach Patrick Walsh seemed oblivious to the large bird droppings that had stained the back of his blue and white polyester coaching polo on Saturday.

"Oh I know it's there – I felt it come down in the fourth quarter," he said with a wry grin following his team's 28-14 home victory over Bellarmine (San Jose.) to gain a co-West Catholic Athletic League championship with Valley Christian. "But what are you going to do? (Crap) happens. It's just how you deal with it."

The Padres (7-3, 6-1) dealt with a cruddy 14-0 deficit early to score three touchdowns in a span of 2 minutes, 28 seconds starting with a 39-yard touchdown run by quarterback Hunter Bishop with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

A partial punt block by Justin Tatola led to a 1-play TD drive, a 21-yard pass from Bishop to Rory Uniacke, and then Bellarmine's next offensive play, running back Anthony Guttadauro was hit hard, fumbled and after a scramble, defensive end Ian Brown picked it up near the goal line and dove in.

Down two scores nearly the whole first quarter, suddenly Serra was up 21-14 with 9:54 left in the half and would never trail again.

A little more than three minutes later, Serra tacked on a fourth touchdown, a 4-yard run by Kava Cassidy and this one was essentially over because of Serra's rugged defense.

Led by linebacker James Outman and lineman Billy Tuitavake, the Padres registered five sacks, allowed 47 yards rushing on 32 attempts and 87 yards overall. Serra finished with 344 yards.

"The defense has been the story all season long," Walsh said. "The offense is off and on. When we go, we really go. It's like "wow." But what's been constant all year long has been our defense."

Said Stanford-bound 6-foot-8, 290-pound Serra offensive tackle Jack Dreyer: "The defense had an amazing game, but that's sort of typical. We've kind of have come to expect it."

Said Bishop, an ever-improving 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior: "When we practice against our first-string defense, we're practicing against the best team in the WCAL. They are awesome."

Bellarmine coach Mike Janda, whose team dropped to 8-2 and 4-2, said the same Serra defense he studied on film was the same that showed up Saturday.

"They're big and strong and aggressive," he said. "They did a great job shutting down the run. We're a running team. When we can't do that, we're in trouble."

It was Serra that looked in trouble early when after fumbling away a promising opening drive, Bellarmine drove right down field and scored on a 1-yard run by Antonio Garcia, making it 7-0. On Serra's ensuing punt, speedy Kyle Macauley scooted down the home team's sideline for a 75-yard touchdown return. The Bells led 14-0 with 1:31 left in the first quarter.

"We never fight or panic when we get down," Dreyer said. "When we're playing as brothers, we just ride a straight line and never get too up or too down."

This team has overcome many down times, liking losing the season's first two games against legitimate teams in De La Salle-Concord and Southern California juggernaut Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks.

In the latter game, the team's leader Cassidy and 1,000-yard rusher from 2013 broke his collarbone missed five games. The Padres rebounded with five straight wins, but lost to Mitty 27-14 and perhaps the team's best all-around player Kelepi Lataimua for the season with another broken collarbone. The Padres have responded with two straight wins.

Walsh pointed to the back of his shirt as a metaphor to the team's season and second straight WCAL crown.

"It's special to think about all the chaos and all the different things we've had to deal with," he said. "To overcome all that and win a championship in this tough league is a testament to the kids' character."

Both teams will advance to the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs, with defending champion Serra likely earning the fourth seed and a home game. Bellarmine will likely be on the road.

"Hopefully our guys recognize it's a whole new deal and season," Janda said. "We need to pick ourselves off the mat and see what we can salvage."

Dreyer is confident that Serra can repeat in the Open Division, which will also include Valley Christian.

"I definitely think we can repeat," he said. "With the chemistry we have and the talent we have, we can do it. We're playing as brothers. When you do that you can do amazing things."

Just ask Bellarmine early in the second quarter.