Serra's speed date on Friday was Westlake Village Westlake.  Serra was supposed to be the 10, Westlake was presumed to be the 3.  Good thing this date didn't end in 15 minutes.  After fifteen minutes, it was wall-flower Westlake 14, handsome Serra Goooooose Egg. 

 

But then the laws of nature went to work.  Over the next 30 minutes, Serra scored 31, Westlake scored nothing.  The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter, making the final score 38-20.

Serra seems to play down to the opponent's level no matter how far down that is.  And so it was with Westlake.  Not to say that Westlake was that far below Serra in talent, especially when you add that the Cavaliers were without the services of Oluwole Betiku (shoulder injury) and Tevesi Tuaau (one-game disqualification).  It was not until well into the fourth quarter that the Jell-O started jigglin', but at the end it was like speed dating.  The 3 went home disappointed, and Serra moves on to the next round.

 

Serra took the opening kickoff.  The offense was flat, and Serra was forced to punt.

 

Westlake featured a very effective passing attack, Serra was generally effective against the run.  But for much of the game, Westlake was able to count on five yards per pass.  This was the story of the first quarter.  Westlake took the Serra punt and moved down the field first down-by-first down, mostly through the air.  Fourth and one at the Serra goal, the Warriors drew first blood at 7:20 in the first quarter.  PAT good.  Serra 0 - Westlake 7.

 

After the kickoff, Serra managed a couple of first downs, but the second drive sputtered out as well.  Serra had to punt with 6:17 remaining. 

 

On the third play after the punt, Westlake went to the well once too often.  Kordell Ross intercepted a Westlake screen pass at the line of scrimmage.  He had visions of a pick 6, but that was not to be.  Nor could the offense close the deal.  The offense took Ross's gift smartly to the Westlake five, but fumbled short of pay dirt.  Westlake recovered.

 

Starting at their own five, the Warriors efficiently moved the ball in the direction of Serra's goal line.  But, still on their side of the field, Westlake's Grant Bunker reared back and threw a fifty yarder to Vince Corso.  Serra's Max Williams was on Corso's shoulder, and took a swipe at the ball; but he missed and it settled into Corso's hands.  Corso trotted the rest of the way to the goal. PAT good.  Mighty Serra zero, the lowly Warriors were riding high: 14-0 with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter. 

 

Serra was unable to do much with its fourth possession of the night, but the Serra defense was getting stronger.  After another exchange, Serra pinned the Warriors against their own goal line.  When the Warriors were forced to punt, Job McGinty brought the ball back inside Westlake's 10.  This time the offense cashed in. PAT good.  Serra 7 - Westlake 14, two minutes into the second quarter.

 

Three punts later, Serra had the ball on the Serra 30.  For the nth time, Tate escaped the pass rush and broke into the clear.  When he finally collided with the last defender standing, Serra had the ball at the Westlake 23.  A motion penalty wiped out a nice McGinty run, but Tate salvaged the drive with a powerful run to the Westlake 8.  Two more Tate runs and it was a brand new ball game: Serra 14 - Westlake 14.  Three minutes to halftime.

 

The next series was a turning point.  The Warriors went all out, but couldn't gain a first down.  They had to punt with 2:21 on the scoreboard clock.  Starting at the Serra 49, the Cavs ran two ineffective run plays and it as looking like it was run-out-the clock time, but Tate made a great throw to Isaiah Diego-Williams and Diego-Williams made an even better run to take the Cavs to the Westlake 15.  On the next play, Serra went ahead for good on a great catch in the end zone.  PAT good.  Serra 21-14.  1:37 remaining in the first half.

 

Serra's mid range on-sides kick was fielded cleanly setting the Warriors up at the Westlake 34.  But, again, Westlake wasn't able to advance ten yards.  Serra got the ball with 49 seconds on the clock.  Run out the clock now?  Perish the thought.

 

All of a sudden, Serra could complete the quick outs that Westlake had been throwing all night.  Out complete for ten.  43.5 seconds. Out complete for 1st at the 39.  38 seconds.  Down and out complete to the Westlake 41.  30 seconds.  Run for a 1st at the 25.  Spike. 16.6 seconds.  Past to the end zone, nearly intercepted.  Clock stopped 10.2.  Pass complete to the 4, tackled in bounds. 1.5 seconds.  Clock stopped to move the chains.  A sure fire field goal if the clock can be stopped with a spike.  But 1.5 seconds is not enough to hike and spike.   No score but a message was delivered. 

 

First half over, Serra 21 - Westlake 14.  The Jell-O still in the package.

 

The second half began with the Warriors taking Serra's kickoff to the Westlake 35.  Two plays resulted in a loss of three, and the third was an out that Serra intercepted and returned to the Warrior 5.  The next three Serra plays were dismal.  Serra ended up fourth and goal at the Warrior 15.  Eric Escamilla salvaged something from the opportunity.  Field goal good.  Serra 24 - Westlake 14 with 9:33 to play in the third quarter.

 

The Warriors moved backward on their next series thanks to a bad snap.  Serra's first possession of the second half started at the Westlake 47 with 7:27 remaining in the third.

 

A completed pass and a Tate run brought Serra to the Westlake 31.  A couple of broken plays and it looked like another wasted possession.  Then, on third and ten from the 31, Tate threw to Diego-Williams just over the line of scrimmage.  Diego-Williams emerged a second later from a swarm of Warrior tacklers, ran down the sideline, avoided a tackle at the 5, and coasted into the end zone.  The scoreboard clock stood 5:48 in the third.  Escamilla was money again: Serra 31 - Westlake 14.  The Jell-O was at least in the fridge even if it wasn't yet jigglin'. 

 

The Cavalier defense continued to stymie the Warrior offense, so Serra got the ball back about 25 seconds after kicking off.  The offense was moving with confidence at last, but at the Westlake 33, Tate, under pressure, threw the ball across field leaving it up to his receiver to be there when it came down.  Alas, the pass came down to a Warrior at the 27. 4:15 remained on the third quarter clock. 

 

After the interception, the first-quarter Warrior offense came to life.  Seven plays moved the ball to the Warrior 48.  And the 8th play was a reprise of long pass that resulted in the Warrior's second touchdown.  Bunker heaved the ball about forty yards in the general direction of Vince Corso.  Corso was blanketed, but managed to undercut the coverage, and came down with the ball at the Serra 5.  The Cav defense held Westlake off for two plays; but on third, down Bunker found Corso alone in the middle of the Serra end zone.  The PAT went wide.  Serra 31 - Westlake 20.  With a quarter to go, the Jell-O came out of the fridge.

 

The Cavalier offense was up to the challenge.  Starting at the Serra 34, the offense held the ball for next three minutes, and extended Serra's advantage from 17 to 18 with 9:47 left to play in the fourth.  The key play was a patented Khalil Tate escape from certain sack, then a last second flip to Job McGinty, who stood all alone at the Warrior 20.  McGinty ran the ball to the 5.  Serra scored three plays later on a third and goal pass to Jalani Eason.  The Jell-O was back in the fridge for good.