Serra routs Riordan in WCAL showdown: Live update recap

West Catholic Athletic League championship on the line as top-ranked Serra pummels the upstart Crusaders, 53-7

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA — Serra has represented Northern California in the CIF Open Division state championship game the last two seasons. They entered Saturdays home game with Riordan at 7-0 and outscored four West Catholic Athletic League opponents 202-33. 

Riordan hasn't had a winning season since 2015, the same season the Crusaders last beat Serra in a crazy 65-47 contest. Since then, Serra had won seven straight in the series by a combined count of 299-36. 

All the numbers indicated another Serra blowout.

It turned out so which was surprising as the Padres dominated from the get-go en route to a 53-7 win. 

Riordan came in with a whole new look. The Crusaders entered 6-1, averaging 43 points and 479 yards per game led by sophomore quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr. (2,085 passing yards, 23 TDs), a massive offensive line and playmakers like Chris Lawson (44 catches, 738 yards, nine TDs) and Charlies Johnson (509 yards rushing, seven TDs).

An influx of highly recruited transfers have helped turn Riordan into a new Northern California power. 

They left Brady Family Stadium humbled but not nearly defeated. There’s lots of season and playoffs ahead  

FIRST QUARTER UPDATES

Serra 8, Riordan 0: Jaden Green 4-yard touchdown run  Padres run ball six straight times, covers 54 yards. 2-point conversion good.

Serra 15, Riordan 0: Brooks Trimmer to Chris Yoon 20-yard touchdown pass off fake field goal.  Yoon fakes like he was leaving field. Not so  trickery at its trickiest. 

SECOND QUARTER UPDATES

Serra 22, Riordan 0: Maealiuaki Smith 20-yard TD pass to tight end Cole Harrison  All Padres. 8:36 2Q. 

Serra 29, Riordan 0: One play after Yoon interception, Trimmer with 16-yard TD run around right end  getting ugly quick  

Serra 36, Riordan 0: Marley Alapati 2-yard TD run.  3:53 2Q  Running clock in 3Q?

- Riordan zips right down field to Serra 18  but four incompletions including spectacular catch by Tyrone Jackson ruled out of bounds. Halftime: Serra 36, Riordan 0  

THIRD QUARTER UPDATES

Serra 43, Riordan 0: Braden Agosta 29 yard TD catch from Smith. 

Serra 43, Riordan 7 : Chris Lawson 23-lyard TD catch pass from Michael Mitchell  

Serra 50, Riordan 7: Nano Latu 9-yard run. 4:39 3Q

FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES. 

Serra 53, Riordan 7: FG, Thomas Gooch 36

(All photos below by Eric Taylor)

Photo: Eric Taylor

Photo: Eric Taylor

Photo: Eric Taylor