SAN MATEO, CA - Serra won a league-co-title, earned a berth in the section Open playoffs and ended Mitty's perfect season all in one fell swoop Saturday.
The Padres defeated Mitty 31-7 at Brady Family Stadium, earning Serra a co-title for the West Catholic Athletic League title with Mitty. Serra has now won seven WCAL championships in the post-CAL League era, including four in 13 years under coach Patrick Walsh.
"This is the best football we have played all year,” Walsh said, “They are an outstanding team, but our team rose to the occasion and played very well.”
Receiver/defensive back Hamilton Anoa'i led Serra (8-2, 6-1), catching three touchdown passes from quarterback Matthew Fa'aita and intercepting a pass.
It was a stark contrast from last season's Mitty game in the WCAL opener when Anoa'i tore up his knee and missed the rest of the season.
"He played great," Walsh said. "I'm very proud of him. I've said all along he's a DI player and he performed today."
Serra was forced to punt on their opening drive, setting up Mitty in good field position early. Mitty drove down the field with a couple solid runs by Chandler Ramirez, but quarterback Trenton Scharrenberg was intercepted by Vince Camp, the first of three interceptions by the Padres. That turnover eventually led to an 18-yard scoring hook-up from Fa'aita to Anoa'i to make it 7-0.
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With 1:19 left in the first quarter, once again Anoa’i turned a 5-yard crossing route into a 24-yard touchdown.
Down 14-0, Mitty hopes flickered when Scharrenberg hit Tommy Hudson over the middle for a 66-yard touchdown strike, making it 14-7.
After forcing Serra to punt, Mitty once again drove down the field and with 7:03 left in the second quarter turned over the ball on an Anoa’i interception. Kelepi Lataimua had outstanding coverage on the play, breaking up the pass and propelling it into Anoa'i's hands.
“I was just playing my coverage and all of a sudden the ball just landed in my hands,” said Anoa’i, “Our pass rush was getting to the quarterback who had no time to throw.”
The relentless pressure by the Serra line put Mitty’s quarterback Scharrenberg in a tough situation all game. Daniel Lavulo led the charge as he was constantly in the backfield and had numerous tackles for losses.
The Padres again transformed the turnover into points, scoring on a 5-yard run by Kevin McGee to make it 21-7 heading into the half.
Serra was back to its ballhawking ways in the third quarter, with Nick Maka intercepting a third Mitty pass, eventually leading to a 25-yard field goal by Steven Bodley, extending Serra's lead to 24-7.
There was no solving Serra's suffocating defense for Mitty as the game chugged into the fourth quarter. The Padres continued to stifle the Monarch passing and running game and Anoa's third scoring catch of the game -- a 59-yarder from Fa'aita -- closed out the scoring.
The Monarchs committed numerous penalties which put them in a tough position to score and stop Serra’s offense.
“We hurt ourselves early as far as jumping offsides six or seven times, putting ourselves in a hole. We had many opportunities," Mitty coach Matt Haniger said.
Serra, for the most part, played brilliantly.
"We had no turnovers and a few penalties," Walsh said. "To win a game like this you have to play really good football."
Serra will host Pioneer at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Open Division playoffs. Mitty (9-1, 6-1) will take on Palma (7-3) at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas at 7 p.m. Friday, also in the Open Division.
