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Junipero Serra High School Alumni eNewsletter
Final Four Minutes - - Again
Serra finally got the upper hand in the last four minutes of a score-a-thon with Oceanside. This week, Serra was shut out by Notre Dame until the final four. Starting at 4:09, the Cavs turned a stumbling, bumbling, nightmare into an overtime win 20-13.
For three and two thirds quarters the game was all about Serra's defense and Notre Dame's kicker. The Serra defense kept the Knights out of the end zone, but their kicker, Lucas Alphonso scored for them from long range. Three points on their first possession of the game, which put them in the lead for the next 40 minutes, and another three with 3 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Cav offense, for all its troubles, got two field goal opportunities of their own, but both missed.
So it went for forty four minutes, the Cavs stumbling, bumbling and grumbling on offense. The defense st...re...tch...ing but not breaking.
Finally with 4:09 remaining in the game, the Cav offense came alive. Starting on the Serra 20 after a Notre Dame missed field goal try, Jordan Lasley ran the patterns and Jalen Greene delivered the ball on two plays each good for about thirty yards. Even a botched third and inches pass didn't stop the drive. On fourth and three, Greene somehow pulled himself out of the grasp of Notre Dame tacklers and completed a 24 yard to Issac Cox at the Notre Dame fifteen. Greene ran right through the flailing Knights on the next play. Six-six.
Alas, the automatic extra point was partially blocked, leaving the game tied at six with 2:40 remaining.
On the next series, the Knights suddenly found their offense as well. Third and long at the 50, ND's Kraemar lofted a 20-yard rainbow to Koa Farmer just over the Cavalier safety's fingers, caught at the sideline with an open field in front of the receiver. Fifty total yards altogether, and the tie had lasted 90 seconds. The PAT was good, and Serra was behind again 13-6 with 1:06 left in the game.
The Knight's kicked the ball through the end zone. With about as much hope as the Captain of the Titanic, the Cavs set up at their 20. Greene connected with Adoreé Jackson on a 10-yard slant, and Jackson took off for seventy yards and a touchdown. An amazing show of raw speed that paid back the price of admission. Never say die. Serra managed the PAT, and the Cavs had restored in 12 seconds. 54.6 left in the game. The Knights advanced to the Serra 43 in five plays, but ran out of time.
The tie breaker began with Notre Dame at the 25 on north end of the field. The Knights earned a first at the Serra 12. A pass completed in the end zone looked like a Notre Dame touchdown, but there was a yellow flag on the field: false start. TD called back and loss of five. The Knights couldn't get there, an fourth and goal at the 14 lined up for an easy field goal. Malachi Mageo somehow managed to get there in time for a clean block.
Serra turn on offense. Serra got the ball to the seven on three good runs. Then two passes both of which looked like easy touchdowns. Both were dropped. The Cavs' fourth down field goal from the seven try looked good as gold from the stands, but the zebra saw it wide.
Second over time. Serra on offense first.
First play: Greene connects with Jackson at the five and Jackson weaves into the end zone. PAT good. Serra 20 - Notre Dame 13.
And that's how it ended, an improbable Hollywood ending to a less than glorious outing. But better, far, far better, than a loss.
Cavs play Dorsey at 7:00 PM Friday September 30th (This Friday.) The Dorsey Dons are and ranked 266th in the State. Another tough one.
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