By Alex A. Gonzalez
Palos Verdes: After being shutout for three quarters in the Division 5 CIF-SS final, the Palos Verdes Sea Kings erupted and scored 23 straight points in the fourth quarter, and defeated the La Serna Lancers 23-7 in front of their home crowd on a cold Friday night.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Rakowski led the way with two rushing touchdowns, and Camren Hughes added two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.
“We started 2-4, and now, to be here, we won seven of our last eight games. It is something that words can’t describe,” said Rakowski when discussing the season. “I’m so proud of my guys and look forward to celebrating with them.”
At first, it looked like the Sea Kings could not find their way into the end zone in the title game. And a comeback looked inevitable.
When La Serna got on the board with 3:10 in the first quarter, behind Grady Long’s 35-yard touchdown toss to Zeb Bontemps, the closest Palos Verdes got at scoring any points was a 37-yard field goal.
When the kick was missed to the left, the Lancers played keep away as they utilized their running game behind a trio of running backs of Daniel Moreno, Ayden Contreras, and Elijah Blu Flores II that killed the first half clock and all of the third quarter.
Then, as the fourth quarter started, the Palos Verdes defense forced back-to-back turnovers, and the scoring onslaught began.
When La Serna was on the Sea Kings’ 34-yard line, Long dropped back to pass, only to have it get picked off by Hughes, who then went the other way and returned it 79 yards for the score, tying the ballgame.
“When Camren Hughes got a great pick six that changed the momentum for us,” Rakowski commented about the defensive touchdown.
Then, on the ensuing Lancer possession, Owen Wishner sacked Long, forcing him to fumble, which was then recovered by Josh Williams on their 10-yard line.
Two plays later, Rakowski scrambled out of the pocket and walked into the end zone with 6:21 remaining in the final period, giving his team the lead for the first time.
The Lancers tried to weather the storm and reestablish their ground game, which accumulated 124 total yards rushing but kept going backward as they tried to punch back.
The self-destruction of the Lancers continued on the drive when running back Kaimana Tufaga was tackled in the end zone for safety with 4:24 left in regulation.
Rakowski closed the door for a La Serna comeback when he optioned to keep the rock on their final offensive possession, ran through a defender, and darted his way into the end zone for the game-final touchdown, etching the score at 23-7 after the point after attempt.
“It felt awesome,” said Rakowski about his second rushing touchdown. “I just felt all the hard work we put in right as I crossed the end zone come to fruition.”
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bunch of know it alls; well they think they are
LS Juggle hitting the blog with facts. Very concerning because no way you are a parents or player! watch some film coach and get better.
@THECOACH you know like I know who’s little and who’s big when the stage is the biggest LOL DONT SHRINK..
LS Juggles.
Your disrespect for El Rancho by referring to them as some soft Division 17 school and or calling them a lame equity double digit division team with all the last picks in PE confirms your arrogance and cockiness.
Again, you surely may feel more comfortable in a 3-piece suit of humility.
LS Juggles, you sound like the school historian trying to justify that loss last week. Just take the L, enjoy the holidays and get ready for next season. I went back and read your previous post on here. You appear to have tons of stats or facts about LS.
Hopefully you’re not a coach with too much time on your hands now and are trying to convince yourself all will be just fine.
I cannot disagree with the fact that your Head Coach has done a great job since he took over. He’s done far better than his predecessor did at my old stomping grounds of BG. Rudy seems to be picking up where Hector left off. Simply working on getting better each season.
Go BG Lancers!
Juggernaut, with all your proclamations of success, it’s no wonder some folks out there may get irritated and start bashing your program. It comes off somewhat arrogant.
Try some humility on for size. You may find comfort there.
Ya most likely. Maybe both get to play QB again next year, who knows.
What I do know is La Serna has played
40 quarters of CIF playoff football the last
2 years. They had 1 bad quarter (really actually 3 bad plays on 3 cons poss.)
So 39 consecutive good playoff quarters LS played. Just 1 quarter short of winning 10 consecutive playoff games.
Rather amazing.
Which included winning
7 playoff games by 20 or more pts,
1 by 12 pts, & the State Championship by 2.
LS has gone (14-4) in the playoffs since 2019,
& (33-12) since 2010. Simply awesome.
So the Long kid & LS will be just fine, looking forward to them getting started on another 9 game playoff winning streak or Longer next year.
JB better off at your new positions here. Your qb talents are more than a game manager and that’s all LS needs at Qb. That and not turn the ball over… Defense is always solid and we’ll be even better next season. Hopefully they do figure out some special packages for you on offense
Your clearly snobby post is the La Serna fan base effort to get the Latino QB to leave not stay. You are worried he will push out the starting QB next year. Pretty sick post but not surprising from LS. I notice you push him to a hispamic school and not a La Habra or Yorba Linda etc.
@LSJuggernaut even after he sold the 4th quarter you still think he stays QB1?
Hope #18 JB, stays at La Serna, he is a very good player, and he has a bright future.
But if he and his family decide it’s better for him to move on, then I hope he has great success wherever he plays.
The case for him to stay though is strong
for several reasons…
1-He can continue to be extremely valuable on D, as well as at QB, RB, or WR, like a Taysom Hill or Kordell Stewart back in the day.
2-Every team needs 2 QBs, & if you start as #2, you are always just a play away from being #1.
3-At LS you’ll play for a coaching staff with over 200 years of HS coaching experience,
with the majority of the core having spent a decade & a half together on the beautiful LS campus.
4-The practices alone at LS being so competitive & so skilled, will make him better & more ready for the next level than playing at some soft Div 17 school like El Ranchos who haven’t been good at FB since the 1960’s.
5-Come on, it’s La Serna!!! The LSFB-VIP open bar FHills Country Club all weekend pool parties, the beautiful babes, the fortune, the fame, the free Mansions 4 Hawaiians, the Endless W’s of life in the Kingdom.
Good god almighty at some point people need to read the room, you are not wanted, you are not one of them, have some pride and run.
The PV quarterback , maligned for lack of size by MVS bloggers, is the one who is ranked in his class. The misunderstanding of my statement is further evidence of SGV myopia
Yes he probably does, the kid is a fearless warrior who takes care of the ball and rather tuck it and get killed then throw it into the waiting hands of a hungry defender handing over a championship. Not sure how the best QB in the country is so scared to get hit.
Don’t worry it’s coming.
@ER don’t blame LS because ER can’t afford things.
Not all of us can afford to house Hawaiian kids.
JB gets playing time during non league and in playoffs.
Zero playing time during league play LOL. League is LONG SHOW. Run JB F* that place . Anyone who would take their kid there is a fool. Daddy ball.
alot of people are criticizing the Glendora HC for Daddy ball , i guess thats the thing to do when the season is on the line
wouldnt call those guys ” hometown kids” they played for La Mirada MAtadores Pop Warner….come on now. Whittier trojans or redskins are hometown programs.
@ blew it
Completely agree with you. Tho the transfer shenanigans; without CJ Ceron never would they have won Regionals or state. ? Never … But guess
Who got MVP ! O Long. Of course. He’s amazing don’t get me wrong but if CJ wasn’t on the team o long and his great plays wouldn’t have made it to regionals. MVP should’ve been for CJ.
On tv , announcers called it the CJ Ceron show. And it sure was. He’s why they win regionals and state. Kingdom continues to hand out crowns on silver platters.
CJ Ceron was amazing in the playoffs last year, you are right about that. So glad he got to come back home to La Serna and along with the MVP stud Ethan Long, lead their hometown HS to a CIF, Regional, & State Championship.
The fact that LS made it back to the CIF Finals without those 2 and many other great Seniors from last year is rather amazing. This young La Serna team is going to be scary good the next few years.
Plus they did it in Div 5 this year and Div 4 last year, so we aren’t talking about some lame equity double digit division were teams with all the last picks in PE play for a participation trophy like El Rancho, etc.
#Kingdom
State Champs 2023
SoCal Regional Champs 2023
CIF Champs ’67, ’13, ’23
CIF Runners Up: ’11, ’12, ’15, ’19, ’24
As someone previously pointed out and maybe predicted , the stat comparison is unfair because one guy played in a number of tough preseason. games against teams in Divsion5 or better. The appointed QB played in walkover games against D11-14 Del Rio opponents .
I have no opinion and didn’t see LS play this year , just lending perspective.
@sports man- They manipulate the number of turnovers he has each game to fit their false narrative. In the Schurr game alone, he had 4 turnovers. Every time a team blitzes, it’s over for him. I don’t know how anyone can claim he’s ranked top 20 in his class when he’s throwing interceptions left and right every game, along with constant fumbles. I will say at least they dropped it down to top 20 lol, better than what his family was claiming during league calling him the ‘best QB in the country.’ Who even says that?. Better yet who crys on twitter for recognition LOL recognition is given not asked for. Entitlement at its finest.
typical La Serna had the game by controlling the clock and playing physical on defense the entire night until the QB threw the pick 6 but it still wasn’t over it was the fumble, another pick and all the momentum, all those runningbacks and they still decide to try and pad the stats of the QB and WR’s only to BLOW THE GAME.
No late transfer homecoming storybook 4 different schools QB to save them this season in a lower division…. lets face it Without CJ CERON last season and CIF clearing him LS doesn’t win anything.
?
Who had 7 turnovers? The kid alone? I though he had 5…or 7 total as a team?
Kingdom are you his father? Did the one you guys are demanding is the best QB they have have better stats than the QB who played most of the game? If he did I respect your thoughts, unless he is not the better leader . I just seldom act like I know more than a head coach in that situation (easy for me to say haha , I have not seen either of them) because the director has done a great job improving an already very good club into a cif power. Even if I knew plenty about winning and coaching strategy it would be difficult , and possibly dumb , to come down on a leader with that kind of success. Maybe i will check max preps to compare and contrast statistics (i know , i know stats are not the only variable) and get back
Fire the OC and who will get the position if he was fired? Most likely a lesser football mind. Do you really think very good or great high school coaches are easy to find? How many games do you attend? There are many much worse OC’s out there because it is not really easy to continue winning that big, and earning the finals is doing a very good /great job. And why fire the OC when LS has been dominating teams last two years. LS’s staff has been together and winning for about a decade now since Beltran left. Very close and hard working smarter than most staffs. Where did Beltran, who people thought was so great (wait , do not insult me because he directed LS ,when the head coach, from a very average program into a very very good program that became a strong contender in the playoffs) , yet achieved nothing special at Bell Gardens when it was thought he was going to turn them into a strong club, and possibly LS would drop a level or two. Where is he now? Maybe South El Monte’s offensive , or defensive , coordinator working under an qualified previous below average every season Whittier hs program’ s . At times things work out as they do with some who go elsewhere and continue their success , while some others never reach the high level they achieved previously. If I was (no I have not been to a LS game in a decade) the LS head coach the OC will stay within the tight staff as they continue to roll.
Kingdom of Nepotism you are the smartest mind on the site huh? LS has a very very good to great staff whether you think you know more than them! Well you do not! Everyone knows>? they are a cif power in their division for two years now and you say what you want to , as I question if you have ever been in a similar coaching situation? I doubt it ! Palos verdes is in a great location and beat them ! I would love to play in the finals, wouldn’t you? Oh yeah you would have coached better and won right?
Uh Oh! You better hope Pioneer doesn’t start getting your players to come back home. Our facilities and fzculty are top-notch.
Hes top 20 QB in his class with a few D 1 offers already . SGV myopia
@MVS have you not been paying attention? The 6ft Best Qb in the country for LA SERNA. Had 7 turnovers in the 4th qtr. no team going to win after that. Credit to Rakowski for not turning over the ball
Are you sure this is a story and photo of the MVS favorite son La Serna? Looks like it came from the Palos Verdes Tribine LOL. That skinny little 15 year old kid beat up on La Serna? No way.
Please stop all the excuses. Just say you got beat by a better team. I read all the time LS says it wins with class but now you blame an LS players mother for a post? Sick!!
@LS faithful- If #18 steps in on 3rd down, he doesn’t throw a pick six while in field goal range. Instead, he takes the sack and allows the kicker to secure the field goal. After that, he doesn’t keep throwing interceptions or fumbling the ball. Worst case, he takes the sacks. You said it yourself the “kid was in his head” He needed to be taken out. The blame falls on the coaches, the should’ve made the switch.
@kingdom If you think 18 goes in there and controls the game and does any better, then you are probably the kids mom? To much pressure on the edge, missed blocks up the middle and a defense that was flying around out there and questionable play calling would get into any true sophomore’s head! So no JB doesn’t do any better!
Ridiculous. PV has minimal number of transfers. They enjoy the benefit of open enrollment on the district , much like La Serna . It is an area where kids are exposed to sports , coaching and competition from an early age , much like La Serna . You’re lucky you didn’t have to play them last year . They were placed in Division 2 and had to play Mission Viejo , they didn’t complain or spin false narratives
LS,
Remind us how many turnovers he had? 3, 4, 5….?
Why get bent out of shape over a finals loss? Think outside the box and order some runner-up rings. Make the words “CIF FINALISTS” take up 2/3 of the ring’s face, slap on some gemstones and you’ve got an instant ego boost. You’re welcome.
@ LS.
“Besides that PV plays with a bunch of transfers from South Central”
What does that even mean. You sound like an idiot. Considering LS transfers and un- home grown players that are the majority of your starters.
Bonilla serves a purpose. Put him into spell the first team and bang him into the line. Put the little guy in at LB and let him absorb hits. In coaching parlance its called using a player until he is used up. Save your A plays for your stars. All coaches do that to unpopular players. Think of Rudy Ruettiger.
Our QB did not have a great game. But neither did any other of our starts. Besides that PV plays with a bunch of transfers from South Centeal.
Nope, just an observer from the outside looking in.
Anonymous,
Are you #18’s mother, who has gone on X to voice her frustrations?
Last Dance,
No way the family went on X to post such claims?!! If so, what’s that bible verse say? “Ask, and you shall receive”? Yikes!!!!
Put it this way, without #18 La Serna would have been done weeks ago, Bonilla made the most of his precarious situation and did anything he could to help the team, RB, LB, Special teams you name it. Let that be a lesson to many, all that glitters isn’t always gold. LS doesn’t deserve a kid like that, but alas they have whoever they want.
Last week LONG family on X (twitter) complaining about “my kid don’t get the recognition he deserves” Well here you have it, here’s your recognition. Humble yourselves.
@kingdom of Neoptism HA! Yeah 2 QB’s so that 18 could come in and bail him out like he did during non league.
Three interceptions, three fumbles, and the QB looked rattled the entire game. LS would’ve won with JB. The coaching staff lived and died with their QB decision JB would have controlled the game in the fourth quarter. What an embarrassment for the coaches. You have a player who is capable standing right next to you.
Lancers blew that one. Who was calling the offense? Defensive was the MVP
If La Serna coaching staff had stuck with 2 QB’s they win another CIF title. That simple or have the guts to switch QB’s but everyone knows that wasn’t happening. Defense held for as long as they could.