The 2016 Cavs chalked up the first win of the '16 season sending visiting Dorsey home with a humbling 34-6 loss. The final score suggests an offensive show, but the D was the difference. The D's finest stand began at 6:35 in the fourth. Serra had fumbled at the beginning of its second series offense. Dorsey recovered at the Serra 42. Two good runs put the ball at the Serra 8, Dorsey first and goal. A score seemed inevitable, but the D would not give way. Four plays, two incomplete passes, two power runs, and Dorsey had to return the ball to the Cavs at the Serra 5. And it was a different game from there on.
The Serra offense began to jell in the next series, moving from the Serra 5 to midfield, but on the ninth play of the drive, a deep throw went way wide and was intercepted. It looked like it would be a sure touchdown, but Serra recovered and caught up at the Serra 21. Again, the D rallied. Four plays and Dorsey was forced to return the ball to Serra.
The second quarter started with a replay of the last two minutes of the first. Serra began to move, then gave up a rather easy interception of an underthrown pass. Dorsey got as far as the Serra 25, but not far enough for a first down. The Serra O continued to struggle. One first down, and the Cavs had to punt again. There were 8+ minutes left in the half.
Three Dorsey plays, and Serra got a break. Fumble at the Dorsey 29. Jalani Eason on a zone read, pulled the ball out and tightroped down the sideline to the Dorsey 6. The next play Eason hit Deion Malone on a slant pattern and Malone trotted into the endzone. PAT good. Serra 7- Dorsey 0 and 36.45% of the game played before the first score. So far Eason's run was the best offensive play of the game.
When Dorsey couldn't make ten yards. I lined up to punt. Dorsey's punts were like David Ortiz pop ups, very high and short. In this case, Serra took over at about the Serra 26. Thus began an honest-to-goodness offensive drive. Already 38.58% into the game.
Four minutes, 13 plays, the most important a 4th and 10 check down over the middle to Randy Anyanwu that kept the drive alive at the Don's 15. The PAT was blocked in a controversial play that had the officials scratching their heads for another two minutes.
Serra kicked off with 1:23 remaining in the half. The Dons were beginning to lose heart and the penalty parade got started up. The half ended, for practical purposes when Serra intercepted a badly misthrown Dorsey pass with 8.5 seconds remaining. So we go into half time 13-0. 25 minutes in which the Cavalier defense took the starch out of the Dons, and the Cavalier offense made good on two of seven possessions.
The second half began with the D's only scoring play of the night. After stifling the Dons first series, the Cavs tipped the Don's punt on the rise, sending it straight up. Anyanwu caught it coming down, and just managed to get over the goal line. PAT good, Serra 20 - Dorsey 0 two minutes into the second half and without an offensive possession.
Dorsey no match for the D on its second series. Serra's first offensive series began 5 minutes into the half. The Cavs managed one first down, then failed to convert on 4th and 3 at the Serra 43. Dorsey failed to convert in four plays, and was flagged with unsportsman-like conduct for acting out. Serra got the ball at the Dorsey 25, and needed only two plays to score. Eason hit Max Williams on a crossing pattern, and he dodged most of the Dons' defense slanting east into the end zone. Serra up 27-0.
Maybe the D was tired, or some were thinking that the game was in the icebox, the butter getting hard. Whatever. Dorsey mounted its one scoring drive taking the ball for its own 29 to a score in six plays, aided by a personal foul call on the Cavs, and ending with brilliant 33 yard run down the west sideline very like the Eason run that produced Serra's first score.
Coach Altenberg turned the controls over to Blaze McKibbin on the next series (he had been in for a few plays earlier). The McKibbin unit turned in the most artistic series of the game. A beautiful throw to Kobe Smith was on step away from going the distance. Then a training film bubble screen. Then a deep pass to Smith so far behind the Dons that he even waiting two counts for the ball to get there, he was able to set the Cavs up on the five. A beautiful back shoulder pass to John Jackson on the wide flag finished the drive. Serra up 34 to 6.
Thus ended the scoring with ten minutes left to play. John Jackson took over at QB with six minutes remaining. There were fine individual plays on both sides, but nothing consequential. The Cavs notched their first win. Their first game against other than championship caliber competition. Just how good the Cavs can be is hard to judge.
The question is how good those first three teams were relative to Mission League competition. The Cavs are at the bottom of the ladder based on pre season statistics, but they've undoubtedly played the toughest competition. Unfortunately, the first league game will be against the team that's looking strongest from preseason results -- and a team that somehow vexed the mighty Cavs of 2014 and 2015. Fortunately, the Cavs have an extra week to prepare while the Eagles have what should be a tough game with Bakersfield in Bakersfield next Friday.
Coach Marty Garrison (pictured right) 
Next, Gerardo Pinto '90 came to pick up a transcript. Coach Zac Bose took the time to show him his old yearbook.
