Sierra Canyon football tops Serra in Mission League battle
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With the score tied at 21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Sierra Canyon’s Terrell Cooks jr. (6) carries the ball for a Sierra win of 35:21 at Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
With the score tied at 21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter Sierra Canyon QB Alonzo Esparza (12) is sacked twice by Serra’s Tanu Sosa (8), but after an interception late in the game Sierra wins 35:21 at Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
With the score tied at 21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter Sierra Canyon QB Alonzo Esparza (12) is sacked twice by Serra’s Tanu Sosa (8), but after an interception late in the game Sierra wins 35:21 at Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Kai Honda (25) struggles as Sierra Canyon’s Jae’on Young (5) runs for a touchdown after an interception late in the fourth quarter to win 35:21 at Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Kai Honda (25) struggles as Sierra Canyon’s Jae’on Young (5) runs for a touchdown after an interception late in the fourth quarter to win 35:21 at Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Kai Honda (25) struggles as Sierra Canyon’s Jae’on Young (5) runs for a touchdown after an interception late in the fourth quarter to win 35:21 at Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s wide receiver Lavon Brown (2) carries the ball in first-half game action against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s wide receiver Lavon Brown (2) carries the ball in first-half game action against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s wide receiver Lavon Brown (2) carries the ball in first-half game action against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Dane Dunn (25) carries the ball in first-half game action against Serra High
School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s QB Alonzo Esparza (12) passes against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Kai Honda (25) carries against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Bradley Kakazu (31) rushes against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Kai Honda (25) kicks for the extra point against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Zamani (80) kicks the ball against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra running back Keyonn Chatman (21) carries against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s QB Alonzo Esparza (12) passes against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Ruben Gamboa (7) celebrates his touchdown against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra QB Jimmyu Butler (14) rushes against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s QB Alonzo Esparza (12) passes against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra QB Jimmyu Butler (14) rushes against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra QB Jimmyu Butler (14) rushes against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Dane Dunn (25) carries the ball in first-half action against Serra High
School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Cincere Rhaney (3) carries against Sierra Canyon in first-half game action in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Kai Honda (25) carries against Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra’s Zacharyus Williams (19) is tackled by Sierra Canyon’s Jae’on Young (5) in first-half game action in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Serra High School faces Sierra Canyon in a Mission League home game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Ashton Zamani (80) kicks the ball against Serra High School in a Mission League game on Friday, October 14, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
GARDENA >> Dane Dunn burst into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter and was hoisted into the air by Sierra Canyon lineman Aidan Bretthauer.
Then the entire Sierra Canyon football team mobbed Jae’on Young after his 55-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed it.
It was absolute Mission League mayhem.
Sierra Canyon’s young squad flipped the Mission League race with a 35-21 coming-of-age victory over host Serra on Friday night.
“We grew up tonight,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “Earlier in the year, we would’ve lost that game. Our young guys stepped up.”
Sierra Canyon (4-4, 2-1) – in its first year competing in the Mission League – set up a league title showdown next week against Chaminade.
Meanwhile Serra (4-4, 1-2) – saddled with a forfeit loss to Notre Dame – was forced into a win-or-go-home matchup next week against Alemany.
“They played better than us,” Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. “We didn’t make plays when we had to and didn’t get it done.
“Now we have to beat Alemany or we will be sitting at home for the playoffs.”
Serra looked like it was surging late.
Trailing 21-13 heading into the fourth quarter, Serra quarterback Jimmy Butler made two spectacular passes to tie it.
Butler hit speedster Rodrick Pleasant for a 38-yard touchdown pass on a fade, then sidearmed a 2-point conversion pass to Zacharyus Williams to tie the game 21-21 with 10:34 left in the game.
“We were focused, and we were moving the ball down the field just like last week (against Bishop Amat),” Butler said. “I knew the amount of work we have put in, so I had no doubt in my guys.
“I still have no doubt. We’ll come back next week. That’s mandatory.”
A missed 27-yard field goal by Serra – its second blown field goal of the game – opened the door for Sierra Canyon with 4:32 left.
A 45-yard run by Terrell Cooks on 3rd and 7 set the stage for Dunn’s tiebreaking 1-yard scoring run with 1:32 left.
Young’s interception return for a touchdown put the game away with 1:04 left.
Dunn finished with 120 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, and Cooks had 117 yards on 11 carries for a Sierra Canyon team that had 10 sophomores and one freshman perpetually on the field.
“I was really impressed with Terrell Cooks tonight,” Ellinghouse said. “But more than anything, it was a team win. We did what was needed.
“In the last few years, we got used to playing great teams. This is our first year in the Mission League, and it is one of the best leagues in the state for a reason. Week in and week out you get some great games. And I’m happy to get a win against one of the best teams in Serra.”
Photos: Exciting action from Friday’s high school football games
Butler, who turned 15 on Oct. 5, completed 19 of 30 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Serra.
Williams finished with nine catches for 111 yards.
Pleasant had a 9-yard scoring run and a 38-yard touchdown catch. Cincere Rhaney added 19 carries for 87 yards.
“We had not seen Sierra Canyon before, and they were a good team,” Altenberg said. “But we have to play better. We had opportunities all night, but we have a young team and we are going to learn from it.”
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