SAN MATEO, CA -- Serra entered Saturday's game with an 0-2 record and its resulting victory against South San Francisco -- other than a clean bill of health for Padre star Kava Cassidy -- was just what the doctor ordered.
Running back Cassidy of course is out for possibly the season with a broken collarbone, but Serra didn't need him in a 50-0 victory against the gutsy Warriors.
Junior Kelepi Lataimua had his coming-out party, running for four touchdowns. Lataimua, more noted for his defensive play last season as a sophomore, had first-half TD runs of 18, 5 and 2 yards and returned a punt 82 yards for a score. He also had a long TD run called back because of penalty.
"I didn't know what the record is for touchdowns," said Lataimua, when informed the Serra record for one game is six (held jointly by recent alums DeLeon Eskridge and Erich Wilson). "We were just playing for Kava (Cassidy) today."
Cassidy was injured in the first quarter of Serra's 24-14 loss to Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks in Game 2. Serra coach Patrick Walsh said there's a chance Cassidy will return near the end of the season, but Walsh tends to be "conservative" about such things.
Regarding Lataimua and a possible TD record, Walsh said: "That wasn't even in our consciousness. Whenever you have a really high number like that, it's usually at the expense of another and that's not what we're about."
Now that Serra has lost arguably its best player before the first league game for the second consecutive year (Cassidy this year, Matt Dickerson in 2013), the Padres need to find alternate power sources. Lataimua is one, but Serra has other weapons.
The Padres outgained South City 298 to 128 despite only possessing the ball for 15 minutes, 26 seconds. Sophomore T.C. Lavulo led Serra with 80 yards on four carries, Lataimua scooted for 51 yards on 10 totes and sophomore quarterback Leki Nunn ran for 47 yards and one score on 13 carries, in addition to throwing for 213 yards.
Serra outgained South City 213-86 on the ground and averaged 6.1 yards per carry compared to 2.2 for the Warriors.
But the real back-breaker for South City was special teams, as the Warriors yielded the long return for a TD to Lataimua, a 92-yard kickoff return for a score to start the second half by Demetri McCoy and a second-half blocked punt and short return for a score by Ray Fobbs.
Despite the one-sided score, first-year Warrior coach Jay Oca was not disappointed by his team's effort.
"We gave up points on special teams with those returns, but we only gave up (four) touchdowns (from scrimmage) to one of the higher-ranked teams in the area if not the state and that's a positive," Oca said. ""We forced four turnovers and that's another positive and our defensive line and defensive backfield played well. We just need to shore up our offensive line play so we can move the ball. We moved it occasionally and that gives us hope."
Nunn, a sophomore converted from running back, now has nine interceptions in three games, but also has thrown for around 200 yards per game, has three TD passes and is a threat with his arm or legs. He continues to run the offense for Serra at least until Game 5 when transfer junior QB Hunter Bishop becomes eligible.
Nunn scored Serra's last offensive TD against South City with 9:42 left in the fourth quarter when he recovered a Padre fumble in the end zone -- one of the many ways Serra found to score on the sunny afternoon.
Senior receiver McCoy continues to impress for Serra with four catches for 49 yards and the long kickoff return.
Serra's point total marked the 18th time in school history the Padres have scored 50 or more points.
Justin Tatola led the Serra defense with eight tackles including two quarterback sacks. The Padres had five sacks in all and Tatola was ably backed in the tackle column by Marco Mosquedo (4.5), Tevita Tuitavake (4), Leilua Lualemaga (3.5). James Outman and Gunnar Walsh had three tackles apiece.
Running back Cesar Torres paced the South City offense with 39 yards on six carries.
Serra (1-2) is at Valley Christian (2-1) on October 3 to start WCAL play. Two-way starting lineman Creighton Felise (sprained knee) should be back for that. South City (0-3) hosts Burlingame (3-0) this Friday.
