It was supposed to be a new era for the Serra football program.
Marqise Lee and George Farmer had left for USC. Only four starters were returning from last year. And the team's season-opening 35-13 loss to Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks seem to signal a shift in Serra's fortunes after back-to-back bids to CIF State Bowls.
Yet there was Serra on Sunday, sitting atop the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs as the No. 1 seed as 11 South Bay teams learned their playoff destination.
"Probably a No. 1 seed in the playoffs was the farthest thing from our mind after that first game," Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. "We were concentrating on even making the playoffs, let alone a No. 1 seed."
Though the CIF seeding committee gave the South Bay a treat with a South Torrance-St. Bernard first-round matchup in the Northwest Division, Serra was still the local story of Sunday's pairings announcement.
Two-time defending CIF champion Serra overcame a youth movement, a slew of injuries and a rigorous schedule. But the Cavaliers were able to maintain the high standards it established in recent years.
Serra passed test after test in the Mission League with flying colors. The eye-openers were victories over St. Francis and St. Paul, but the capper was last week's 35-29 victory over Chaminade, considered to be the division's top team all season.
"It's really been an interesting year," Altenberg said. "I think the next challenge is to get them ready for the finality of the playoffs. This is it, no matter what. That's a new thing for our kids."
Serra earned the No. 1 seed in a loaded division that includes No.2 Arroyo, No. 3 Chaminade and No. 4 Ventura.
Serra hosts high-powered Culver City in Friday's first round. A victory could set up a long road trip to Righetti, which won a coin flip.
Unbeaten St. Bernard was the only other South Bay team to earn a top-four seed, drawing the No. 2 seed in the Northwest Division.
St. Bernard will host South on Friday in an intriguing matchup that pits St. Bernard's explosive offense against South's imposing line. South made a CIF final last year.
"I feel happy we don't have to take a four-hour bus ride," said South coach Josh Waybright, whose team made back-to-back trips to Templeton and Lompoc in last season's playoffs. "It's awesome that it's local."
Waybright said South will be without Brandon Loera, the South Bay's leading rusher. Loera sustained a high ankle sprain last Thursday against El Segundo.
Waybright said Loera's foot is in a boot, but Loera might return next week if South survives.
"Loera is a big loss," Waybright said. "He's a tough kid, and I wouldn't put it past him if he was able to come back next week. It would be nice to get another week for him."
Joining Serra in the Western Division playoffs is Ocean League runner-up Inglewood, which opens at third-seeded Chaminade.
Pioneer League co-champions Torrance and El Segundo earned first-round home games in the Northwest Division.
Torrance, which entered with the league's No. 1 seed after winning the head-to-head battle with El Segundo, opens at home against Santa Ynez, the Los Padres League's fourth-place team. Fourth-seeded Nordhoff is a possible quarterfinals matchup.
El Segundo, which won a share of the Pioneer title on Leo Fahmie's 25-yard field goal, hosts Cantwell, the Del Rey League's third-place team.
Also in the Northwest Division, Del Rey League runner-up Bishop Montgomery hosts Centennial, the Pioneer League's third-place team.
The Bay League had a rough draw in the Northern Division.
Bay League champion Palos Verdes opens the playoffs against Foothill League at-large team Hart, but has all-powerful Marmonte League champion Westlake, the top seed, in the quarterfinals.
Bay League runner-up Redondo received a first-round home game, but unfortunately it is against third-seeded St. Bonaventure, another Marmonte powerhouse.
Mira Costa, the Bay League's third-place team, did not fare much better, drawing a road trip to second-seeded Oaks Christian, yet another Marmonte power.
Prep League runner-up Chadwick made the Northeast Division playoffs, but must trek to Desert Mountain League runner-up Mojave for a first-round matchup.
The CIF Finals will be Dec.9-10.
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Marqise Lee and George Farmer had left for USC. Only four starters were returning from last year. And the team's season-opening 35-13 loss to Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks seem to signal a shift in Serra's fortunes after back-to-back bids to CIF State Bowls.
Yet there was Serra on Sunday, sitting atop the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs as the No. 1 seed as 11 South Bay teams learned their playoff destination.
"Probably a No. 1 seed in the playoffs was the farthest thing from our mind after that first game," Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. "We were concentrating on even making the playoffs, let alone a No. 1 seed."
Though the CIF seeding committee gave the South Bay a treat with a South Torrance-St. Bernard first-round matchup in the Northwest Division, Serra was still the local story of Sunday's pairings announcement.
Two-time defending CIF champion Serra overcame a youth movement, a slew of injuries and a rigorous schedule. But the Cavaliers were able to maintain the high standards it established in recent years.
Serra passed test after test in the Mission League with flying colors. The eye-openers were victories over St. Francis and St. Paul, but the capper was last week's 35-29 victory over Chaminade, considered to be the division's top team all season.
"It's really been an interesting year," Altenberg said. "I think the next challenge is to get them ready for the finality of the playoffs. This is it, no matter what. That's a new thing for our kids."
Serra earned the No. 1 seed in a loaded division that includes No.2 Arroyo, No. 3 Chaminade and No. 4 Ventura.
Serra hosts high-powered Culver City in Friday's first round. A victory could set up a long road trip to Righetti, which won a coin flip.
Unbeaten St. Bernard was the only other South Bay team to earn a top-four seed, drawing the No. 2 seed in the Northwest Division.
St. Bernard will host South on Friday in an intriguing matchup that pits St. Bernard's explosive offense against South's imposing line. South made a CIF final last year.
"I feel happy we don't have to take a four-hour bus ride," said South coach Josh Waybright, whose team made back-to-back trips to Templeton and Lompoc in last season's playoffs. "It's awesome that it's local."
Waybright said South will be without Brandon Loera, the South Bay's leading rusher. Loera sustained a high ankle sprain last Thursday against El Segundo.
Waybright said Loera's foot is in a boot, but Loera might return next week if South survives.
"Loera is a big loss," Waybright said. "He's a tough kid, and I wouldn't put it past him if he was able to come back next week. It would be nice to get another week for him."
Joining Serra in the Western Division playoffs is Ocean League runner-up Inglewood, which opens at third-seeded Chaminade.
Pioneer League co-champions Torrance and El Segundo earned first-round home games in the Northwest Division.
Torrance, which entered with the league's No. 1 seed after winning the head-to-head battle with El Segundo, opens at home against Santa Ynez, the Los Padres League's fourth-place team. Fourth-seeded Nordhoff is a possible quarterfinals matchup.
El Segundo, which won a share of the Pioneer title on Leo Fahmie's 25-yard field goal, hosts Cantwell, the Del Rey League's third-place team.
Also in the Northwest Division, Del Rey League runner-up Bishop Montgomery hosts Centennial, the Pioneer League's third-place team.
The Bay League had a rough draw in the Northern Division.
Bay League champion Palos Verdes opens the playoffs against Foothill League at-large team Hart, but has all-powerful Marmonte League champion Westlake, the top seed, in the quarterfinals.
Bay League runner-up Redondo received a first-round home game, but unfortunately it is against third-seeded St. Bonaventure, another Marmonte powerhouse.
Mira Costa, the Bay League's third-place team, did not fare much better, drawing a road trip to second-seeded Oaks Christian, yet another Marmonte power.
Prep League runner-up Chadwick made the Northeast Division playoffs, but must trek to Desert Mountain League runner-up Mojave for a first-round matchup.
The CIF Finals will be Dec.9-10.
[email protected]
http://www.dailybreeze.com/preps/ci_19330842
Source: Tony Ciniglio, Staff Writer, Daily Breeze