La Serna used a strong second half to outlast Valencia 42-28 on Friday night in a CIF-SS Division 3 first-round playoff game at California High, moving on to the next round and setting up a road trip to San Jacinto next Friday night. The Sabercats trailed at halftime, but they scored 22 points after the break to finish off a game that featured 41 combined first-half points.
Grady Long was central to the turnaround. The La Serna senior quarterback ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 136 yards with one interception, giving the offense the kind of dual-threat production that made the difference in a game that stayed tight early. Long said the success started up front, noting that with the offensive linemen working well, he was simply following behind them.
La Serna entered the game at 10-1, and that record showed up in the way the team responded when the matchup tightened. Long said the group had already been using that ground-based approach later in the season, and the playoff game provided another example of it coming through in a big moment. He also pointed to the week-to-week focus after the win over Downey, saying the team could not afford a letdown.
How La Serna pulled away
The scoring pace was fast from the start. Valencia and La Serna were tied 14-14 with 24 seconds left in the opening quarter before La Serna continued to lean on its offense and eventually took control after halftime. The second-half surge was enough to create separation and turn a close playoff opener into a 42-28 win.
Andy George praised the effort afterward, saying he was incredibly proud of the players on the team. He also said the group plays with heart and for one another, which has made it a joy to coach. Jordan Bonilla echoed that sentiment, calling it a big win and saying the coaches made adjustments after a rough start.
Now La Serna’s attention shifts to San Jacinto next Friday night. After surviving the first round, the challenge becomes keeping the momentum going on the road in the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.
