Serra High coach Scott Altenberg didn't know what to expect from his youthful Cavaliers when they visited Redondo on Friday night. They didn't exactly inspire confidence in him after a season-opening loss last week.
Altenberg needn't have worried, though.
The Cavaliers looked polished and poised during a superb 21-0 victory over the winless Sea Hawks, with junior running back Anterio Bateman darting through the defense for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
Bateman had a third touchdown, a 95-yard punt return in the second quarter, called back because of an illegal block. A fourth touchdown went amiss when he dropped a pass from sophomore quarterback Jalen Greene in the fourth quarter.
In the end, the misplays didn't bother Altenberg or Bateman.
Well, not too much, anyway.
After suffering their first regular-season loss in 37 games, when Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks defeated them 35-13 last week at home, the Cavaliers (1-1) bounced back with a comprehensive victory over the Sea Hawks (0-2).
What changed? What was different about Serra's play from Week 0 to Week 1?
"We're really young," Altenberg said, trying to explain the swift transformation. "We don't know what's going to happen. We stubbed our toes (last week against Notre Dame), but that's us. We're starting seven sophomores. We're young."
Serra's moments of indecision were few and far between on Friday, however. Greene and Bateman helped to guide the Cavaliers' offense and defensive backs Patrick Wooten and Adorre Jackson helped to ground Redondo's passing game.
Wooten returned an interception 50 yards for a second-quarter touchdown that gave the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead. Jackson's interception halted a promising Redondo drive at the Serra 43-yard line in the third quarter.
"Last week, we were misaligned a lot," Altenberg said of Serra's defensive lapses against Notre Dame. "(Friday), we made sure we were in the right spots. It's tough to beat us when we're in the right spots."
Redondo didn't have much luck passing or running against Serra, with sophomore quarterback Harrison Faecher completing nine of 23 passes for 100 yards. Deon Williams gained 29 yards on 12 carries after he had 105 yards in last week's loss to North.
The Sea Hawks never threatened to score.
Serra was without standout defensive back/wide receiver Raymond Ford for the better part of the second game in a row. He has been slowed by an ankle injury, according to Altenberg and has played only a handful of plays so far.
"Hopefully, we can get him going," Altenberg said of Ford.
Bateman, generously listed at 5-foot-8, has been as dependable as any of the Cavaliers for Altenberg. He ran so low to the ground against Redondo that the Sea Hawks seemed unable to find him in the tangle of bodies along the line of scrimmage.
Bateman set up Serra's first touchdown with a 36-yard run on the Cavaliers' second play from scrimmage. He capped the 70-yard drive with an 8-yard run through a forest of taller plays, giving Serra the only points it would need to win.
He all but put the game away with a 49-yard scoring run on Serra's first play in the third quarter, zigging when the Sea Hawks thought he would zag and zagging when they thought he would zig during an electrifying sprint to start the second half.
"He's special," Altenberg said of Bateman, who had 167 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries last week against Notre Dame. "It's not just that he's elusive. He's tough. He takes some big hits. He's a very good football player.
"We have to find out ways to get him the ball."
Bateman, who might be closer to 5-foot-4, credited his offensive line for giving him all the running room he needed to shred Redondo's defense, saying, "They opened some big holes. I just had to hit them."
Altenberg needn't have worried, though.
The Cavaliers looked polished and poised during a superb 21-0 victory over the winless Sea Hawks, with junior running back Anterio Bateman darting through the defense for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
Bateman had a third touchdown, a 95-yard punt return in the second quarter, called back because of an illegal block. A fourth touchdown went amiss when he dropped a pass from sophomore quarterback Jalen Greene in the fourth quarter.
In the end, the misplays didn't bother Altenberg or Bateman.
Well, not too much, anyway.
After suffering their first regular-season loss in 37 games, when Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks defeated them 35-13 last week at home, the Cavaliers (1-1) bounced back with a comprehensive victory over the Sea Hawks (0-2).
What changed? What was different about Serra's play from Week 0 to Week 1?
"We're really young," Altenberg said, trying to explain the swift transformation. "We don't know what's going to happen. We stubbed our toes (last week against Notre Dame), but that's us. We're starting seven sophomores. We're young."
Serra's moments of indecision were few and far between on Friday, however. Greene and Bateman helped to guide the Cavaliers' offense and defensive backs Patrick Wooten and Adorre Jackson helped to ground Redondo's passing game.
Wooten returned an interception 50 yards for a second-quarter touchdown that gave the Cavaliers a 14-0 lead. Jackson's interception halted a promising Redondo drive at the Serra 43-yard line in the third quarter.
"Last week, we were misaligned a lot," Altenberg said of Serra's defensive lapses against Notre Dame. "(Friday), we made sure we were in the right spots. It's tough to beat us when we're in the right spots."
Redondo didn't have much luck passing or running against Serra, with sophomore quarterback Harrison Faecher completing nine of 23 passes for 100 yards. Deon Williams gained 29 yards on 12 carries after he had 105 yards in last week's loss to North.
The Sea Hawks never threatened to score.
Serra was without standout defensive back/wide receiver Raymond Ford for the better part of the second game in a row. He has been slowed by an ankle injury, according to Altenberg and has played only a handful of plays so far.
"Hopefully, we can get him going," Altenberg said of Ford.
Bateman, generously listed at 5-foot-8, has been as dependable as any of the Cavaliers for Altenberg. He ran so low to the ground against Redondo that the Sea Hawks seemed unable to find him in the tangle of bodies along the line of scrimmage.
Bateman set up Serra's first touchdown with a 36-yard run on the Cavaliers' second play from scrimmage. He capped the 70-yard drive with an 8-yard run through a forest of taller plays, giving Serra the only points it would need to win.
He all but put the game away with a 49-yard scoring run on Serra's first play in the third quarter, zigging when the Sea Hawks thought he would zag and zagging when they thought he would zig during an electrifying sprint to start the second half.
"He's special," Altenberg said of Bateman, who had 167 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries last week against Notre Dame. "It's not just that he's elusive. He's tough. He takes some big hits. He's a very good football player.
"We have to find out ways to get him the ball."
Bateman, who might be closer to 5-foot-4, credited his offensive line for giving him all the running room he needed to shred Redondo's defense, saying, "They opened some big holes. I just had to hit them."
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Source: By Elliott Teaford, Daily Breeze Staff Writer