Serra falls to St. Mary’s-Stockton as Rams mount late comeback to win NorCal title

STOCKTON For a fleeting moment on a frigid Friday night in Stockton it felt like Serra was about to punch its ticket back to a state title encounter The Padres had seized the momentum their visiting crowd roaring as the once-deafening St Mary s-Stockton supporters fell silent for the first time all evening But within minutes the script flipped and it was Serra s players sobbing on the sideline as St Mary s hoisted the NorCal Division -AA regional championship trophy and a berth in next week s state title challenge after a - win at home Serra s heartbreak came after what looked like a storybook finish A late go-ahead points gave the Padres a one-point lead with under three minutes left But St Mary s riding a postseason wave of poise and clutch execution responded with a four-play game-winning drive the Rams fourth straight playoff supremacy sealed in the final minutes Serra s Jeovanni Henley is the last Serra participant to walk off the field after being defeated by Saint Mary s during their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship competition at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Still it was a valiant run for a Serra unit that was doubted by several for its youth and rough start to the season I think the word I used for this group is resilient From starting off - to jumping into league play with a lot of doubt we got the the greater part out of this gang Serra coach Patrick Walsh declared I don t think anyone should have any doubts about that Halfway through the fourth quarter St Mary s strung together what looked like a momentum shifting drive as the Rams marched yards in plays ending with a pass from Jaden Galvan to Kenneth Moore III to put the Stockton school up - with four minutes left But after a blocked point-after attempt the Padres had the ball down six with a chance to tie or take the lead The Padres took advantage Freshman quarterback William Orr uncovered junior receiver Charlie Walsh for a yard gain to set up Serra in the red zone Serra s Charles Walsh makes a -yard catch and run against Saint Mary s in the fourth quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship meeting at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Three plays later Andrew Takapautolo ascertained the end zone on a two-yard plunge to give Serra the lead with under three minutes to go I thought that was the dagger Charlie commented But as Serra s sideline celebrated St Mary s players were eerily calm The Rams having mounted comebacks in the last three weeks didn t panic A feeling of Did Serra number too quick reverberated through particular of the a multitude of media members lingering on St Mary s side of the field And like a organization that had seen this script before St Mary s only needed four plays to rip down the field for a clutch touchdown Saint Mary s Diego Hernandez celebrates after defeating Serra during their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship challenge at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Galvan uncovered Ivan Huerta for a -yard pitch and catch that ultimately set up a three-yard rushing touchdown from Diego Hernandez With just seconds remaining Serra miraculously made to the St Mary s side of the field and had one last shot at tying the tournament But when the Padres dropped back to pass on the Rams -yard-line St Mary s junior Jack Lucatello sacked Orr and ended Serra s chances of getting back to the state title challenge The loss will sting for Serra but the future is bright for the San Mateo school Charlie Orr Takapautolo and highly-touted safety Malakai Taufoou are all slated to return next season Serra s Jeovanni Henley tackles Saint Mary s CJ Fullard in the second quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship meeting at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group We couldn t get it done but that s OK Charlie declared They re a great organization I just wish I could have done more for this crew Related Articles CIF regional high school football Friday s scores Saturday s schedule Bay Area high school football Week preview schedule College football recruiting Where Bay Area high school players signed Irvington coach Anthony Jackson resigns after playoff season citing lack of administrative aid Bay Area News Group high school football predictions Week A teary-eyed Walsh made sure to thank his senior class as they exited the Sprague Family Field House and onto the buses headed back to Sera They were inevitably full of resource and they have nothing to be ashamed of Walsh disclosed I know they sought to get more and they went after it but we just came up short But the pain would truly be in the lack of effort the pain would be in the lack of enthusiasm But there was zero of that tonight and I m proud of that Saint Mary s Ivan Huerta reaches for a first down catch in front of Serra s Aidan Labrador in the third quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship battle at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Serra quarterback William Orr is tackled by Saint Mary s Ryan Lozano while running for yardage in the second quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship match at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Saint Mary s Jeremy Krause reaches to catch a two-point conversion in front of Serra s RJ Guldbech in the fourth quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship contest at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Saint Mary s Moses Alexander breaks up a pass intended for Serra s Brody Smith in the second quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship contest at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Saint Mary s Mason Eagal intercepts a deflected pass intended for Serra s Charles Walsh in the second quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship encounter at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Serra head coach Patrick Walsh tries to get the attention of his players as they attempt to result a touchdown against Saint Mary s in the fourth quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship battle at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Serra quarterback William Orr is dejected on the field after being defeated by Saint Mary s during their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship battle at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group Serra quarterback William Orr is sacked during the final play of the meeting as Saint Mary s players run off in celebration in the fourth quarter of their CIF NorCal Division -AA Championship tournament at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton Calif on Friday Dec Saint Mary s defeated Serra - Jose Carlos Fajardo Bay Area News Group