Game of the Week: Serra, Riordan square off for WCAL title

Both teams head into the regular-season finale under the temporary Friday night lights at Freitas Field with one thing in common. Each is undefeated in WCAL play, meaning the showdown on West 20th Avenue will determine the outright league championship.

“Probably the most talented team in the league,” Serra head coach Patrick Walsh said of Riordan. “They have the most Division I talent, so that’s No. 1, I would say. Based on that, their quarterback is fantastic. ... He’s extremely talented. He’s a great competitor.”

Mitchell, a commit to the NCAA Division I program at Vanderbilt, is a four-year varsity standout who is on track to reach the 10,000-yard career passing mark as the Crusaders advance through the postseason. The senior is currently sitting on 9,391 career passing yards, including 2,611 this season, a record 1,856 in WCAL play.

Backed by head coach Adhir Ravipati’s aerial attack, the Crusaders are gunning for their first WCAL championship in over a quarter of a century. Riordan has won three WCAL titles all-time, the last coming in 2000, the year before Walsh took over at Serra.

“Riordan hasn’t had a quarterback like that in a long time,” Walsh said. “The league hasn’t seen a quarterback like this in a long time. ... What’s different is it starts with him. He’s a fantastic player.”

The Padres own 13 WCAL titles all-time, 21 overall league titles. A title win Friday night would mark the program’s fifth outright WCAL championship all-time, with the last coming back-to-back in 2022 and ’23.

Serra has been as run intensive as it has been in years. Takapautolo figures into the ground scheme as the quarterback in the Raider formation, and has totaled 55 carries for 352 yards on the year. The big two out of the backfield are senior wrecking ball Iziah Singleton (123 carries, 719 yards) and junior speedster Jeovanni Henley (28 carries, 223 yards).

Bandel and Orr have platooned to anchor a modest passing game, but much will be riding on the versatility of Henley and junior wide receiver/safety Malakai Taufoou, as the two-way standouts also play the secondary, where their presence will loom large against Air Riordan.

“Those guys are going to be out there on a need-to-win basis,” Walsh said. “And the best players will be in the game in those moments when we need to win at that moment.”

Riordan is a multi-dimensional offense, with junior running back Adonyae Brown setting the tone this season with 836 rushing yards through his first six games. He has missed the past three weeks, though, and is questionable for Friday. The Crusaders’ senior receiver quartet is their most diverse weapon, though, led by Harvard commit Judge Nash, along with Kyle Welch, Cynai Thomas and Perrion Williams.

“The biggest challenge is a lot of teams have one great receiver, maybe two,” Walsh said. “Every one of their receivers is great. So it’s going to stress our secondary. .. It’s all hands on deck just to eliminate their exceptional pass game.”

Serra has been creative with its passing game this year, relying on junior slot receiver Charlie Walsh and junior tight end Jace Cannon, who are neck-and-neck for the team lead in receiving yards. Bandel, Taufoou and Orr are expected to each see playing time, as usual.

“We’re going to keep it the same,” Walsh said, “and we’ve worked in a rotational world. Each situation and quarterback has certain characteristics that match the situation or the time in the game. It’s what our team is used to ... and I don’t see us changing that Friday night.”

Both teams have punched their tickets to the Central Coast Section Open/Division I postseason tournament this season. Friday’s outcome should determine the tournament’s No. 1 seed.

Kickoff at Freitas Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.