Serra blanks Bells, improves WCAL mark to 2-0

While the Padres’ offense was unstoppable early on — needing just nine plays from scrimmage to post its first four scores — the defense flexed its muscles by all but shutting down the Bells’ aerial attack, allowing just one pass completion for 35 yards in the game.

“I think our secondary, since we pretty much got shred up (in Week 1) by Serra-Gardena, they’ve really been lights out,” Serra head coach Patrick Walsh said.

Juniors Jackson Lataimua and Daylin McLemore were on point throughout in relatively new roles. Both list exclusively as offensive players on the 2018 Serra roster, but have each gotten a majority of their reps on the opposite side of the ball.

Lataimua, from the safety spot, broke through for a safety midway through the second quarter to up Serra’s lead to 29-0. The junior leads the Padres with 30 tackles, though the safety marked his first career sack.

McLemore serves as backup quarterback to Serra senior Luke Bottari, who Saturday enjoyed another near-perfect WCAL performance. Through two league games, Bottari has completed 23 of 26 passes, going 11 of 13 for 186 yards and three touchdowns against the Bells.

Considering McLemore’s athleticism at 6-3, 185 pounds, the Padres were inclined to find another way for him to contribute.

“We said, ‘let’s finds a way to get Daylin on the field,’” Walsh said.

McLemore has made two straight starts at cornerback. And he looks as though he’s there to stay.

The junior is one of several new additions to the Serra lineup since the start of WCAL play. Senior linebacker E.J. Lahlouh is a returning all-league defensive standout, but he missed most of the non-league slate due to an ankle injury sustained early in Week 1 against Serra-Gardena. The senior has returned with a vengeance.

Following Serra’s first score Saturday — a 53-yard option pass from Patrick Simon to Terence Loville — Lahlouh nabbed his first interception of the year, returning it to the Bellarmine 23. It set up the day’s second score, a 23-yard pass from Bottari to senior running back Nate Sanchez to up the lead to 13-0.

Serra defensive end Nusi Malani has also made a big impact in his first two varsity starts. The 6-5, 235-pound junior is a big disruptor off the edge, and has been just as valuable as a motivational force since returning from knee surgery in March.

“What it’s meant more to us is emotionally,” Walsh said. “That sort of joy carries over to the rest of the defense.”

Serra added two more quick scores on offense. Up by two touchdowns, a big punt Loville put the Padres at the Bellarmine 10. Two plays later, Bottari his senior Malakai Rango for a 3-yard score. At the start of the second quarter, Bottari opened Serra’s next drive with a 55-yard completion to Rango to advance inside the Bells’ 20. Two plays later, Bottari scored on a 2-yard keeper.

The Padres then produced a safety, with Malani and senior defensive end Jason Venturi blasting right through the Bellarmine line to pressure the quarterback out of the pocket, with Lataimua getting a straight shot at the safety just across the goal line.

Serra scored once more before the half, with Bottari connecting with Sanchez on a 20-yard screen midway through the second quarter to up the lead to 36-0.

Then, the Padres opened the second half with their fifth score in five possessions, as Bottari put the ball in the red zone with a 43-yard pass to Rango. Sanchez later scored on a 1-yard run taking the snap out of the wildcat formation.

The game was played with a running clock from there.

Rango enjoyed a big day with 191 all-purpose yards. He was Serra’s most prolific receiver, netting four catches for 82 yards. He also had one carry for 45 yards rushing. On special teams, his most dangerous department, he totaled 41 yards on punt returns, and a 23-yard kick return to open the game.

Next up, Serra will host Archbishop Riordan Saturday at 2 p.m.

Along with Serra’s personnel changes on the field since the start of WCAL play, another notable one is on the coaching staff with Darius Bell being promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Walsh started the season as offensive coordinator, taking over for Steven Lo who departed to take a job at St. John Bosco-Bellflower.

Bell — who spent the three previous seasons on the varsity staff at Riordan — moved into the offensive coordinator role prior to the WCAL opener against Mitty.

“I turned [the job] over,” Walsh said. “We built the foundation of the offense together. … Then ultimately, at some point, given the demands of my life, I was going to turn it over to Darius (Bell).”