La Serna fell just short in the CIF Division 6 Championship game. (Photo by Duane Barker).
La Serna came up a point short in its bid to win the Division 6 championship against Pacific/Oxnard at California High School. Tim Peterson wrote the game story and Duane Barker took the pictures in a game that became an instant classic one year ago on Saturday night November 30, 2019.
By Tim Peterson
(Whittier) – La Serna led 35-21 in the third quarter but was unable to hold on and eventually fell to Pacifica/Oxnard 42-41 Saturday night in the CIF Division 6 Championship game at California High School.
The Lancers were in good shape scoring on the first two possessions of the third quarter to go up by 14. Tied at 21 at the half La Serna marched 90 yards on six plays with Steven Pinales capping it with a 5-yard touchdown run on the first series of the third quarter. Pacifica went three and out and the Lancers were on the move again.
This time they drove 75 yards on six plays with quarterback Andrew Henriquez going the last 19 yards for the score. With 6:06 left in the third quarter La Serna was up 35-21.
Then things went awry.
Andrew Henriquez threw for two scores and ran for one but it wasn’t enough. (Photo by Duane Barker).
Pacifica responded on the next series. RJ Maria hit Kyrie Wilson down to the 11-yard line. After a pass interference penalty Brad Bichard scored on a four-yard run to cut the lead to seven.
The turning point in the game came on the ensuing series. The Lancers dropped back to punt at their own 27, but the punt was blocked and Malik Sherrod, who was already having a huge night offensively, scooped up the ball and scored from three yards out and in just four minutes the Tritons had tied the game at 35. ‘
The La Serna D had trouble stopping Pacifica running back Malik Sherrod. (Photo by Duane Barker).
With the game still tied in the fourth quarter a bad snap on a punt attempt by La Serna led to Pacifica taking over deep in Lancer territory at the 27. A 24-yard Maria pass to Wilson set up a one-yard run by Bichard with 8:15 remaining to give Pacifica a 42-35 lead as the Tritons had reeled off 21 consecutive points.
La Serna had one last charge left on the next possession. The Lancers moved down the field 71 yards on 8 plays with Henriquez connecting with Jacob Leija for a four-yard touchdown pass. Another tie appeared to be at hand but the snap was dropped and by the time it was teed up for kicker Chandler McCaffer his boot came up short. Pacifica had maintained its one point advantage with 5:10 left.
Pacifica was forced to punt one more time and La Serna got the ball back at its own 15 yard line with 1:34 left on the clock. But after picking up one first down Henriquez was sacked on fourth down with less than a minute left and the Lancer hopes were sacked with it.
A couple of knees by Pacifica and that was all she wrote.
La Serna got off to a good start when Pacifica fumbled the opening kick off and Michael Quinones fell on it at the Triton 20 yard line. Three plays later McCaffer scored on a three-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
Sherrod countered with a 32-yrd TD scamper for Pacifica but La Serna landed another big blow with a 35-yard touchdown strike from Henriquez to Atallah Shalash to regain the lead.
Sherrod finished an 80-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring jaunt later in the first quarter to tie it at 14. The Tritons then grabbed their first lead early in the second quarter on a 24-yard touchdown toss from Maria to Wilson.
The Lancers tied it just before halftime when Pinales ended a short 44-yard march with a one-yard run with 10 ticks left in the first half.
The teams went into the break all knotted up with each side having scored three touchdowns. There were 12 scored in all – six by each team – with the one extra point being the difference.
For the Tritons Sherrod had 18 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns to go with his interception on defense. Wilson had five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
For La Serna Leija corralled three catches for 67 yards and a score and Shalash had two for 51 and a TD. Henriquez threw for 242 yards and a pair of scores but he was hurt by two interceptions. He also rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown.
While Pacifica celebrates a CIF championship and a possible trip to the State playoffs, La Serna finishes with 13 wins, and 1 loss by 1 agonizing point.
PA 14 7 14 7 42
LS 14 7 14 6 41
cowards? coming from an anonymous person
Y’all a bunch of cowards
Maybe your son could warm up the left bench on his next football team.. there’s a reason why he didn’t play and only garbage time. Sorry to say it “super dad” but your son is donkey and that garbage time pretty much says it. No favoritism just kids that can ball 100%.. grow up dad this is HS football
Congrats to all those la Serna dads who ran their mouths, nothing like a father putting pressure on his own kid. Sincerely Lavar ✌🏽
Heck of a season, Lancers. One tough loss does not a team make, keep your heads up, enjoy your successes and then get ready for next season. Congrats to Coach George, the staff and all the young men on a special year on the gridiron. Now get after it for next season!
watch out for this incoming freshman class they are studs. LS reloading.
45 and 21? We’ve heard you all season. Good riddance, you can leave. You have good boys don’t be that dad who thinks they know whats good for them. Let them make their own decisions.
What exactly do you mean?
About 40 boys will be leaving LS and going back to Cal, Whittier, HH Wilson, Pioneer, Santa Fe. etc. since that special class is over (Football 101) LOL .
Heard La Habra need some more water boys
Bet…
Your son, at the given time, is most likely not good enough for the big time. Be happy with garbage time it builds character. Get better and you’ll see the field. This is not ayso.
@laces out
ready but was he good enough?
Name him so we can see if you are right next year
Congratulations to the La Serna HS football team. What an outstanding job by the staff and players. Very proud of you and the way you represented the area.
It’s ridiculous how La Serna’s Coaches continued to play favoritism throughout the season and into the playoffs. Well, it finally caught up with them. My son was ready to go since day 1 and he only got to play in garbage time. For this reason we will be transferring immediately. We wish La Serna the best, but we are moving onto greener pastures.