SAN JOSE — Serra has been one of the most dominant football teams in Central Coast Section history and the Padres were crowned with the 2023 Open Division title following a 63-27 victory over Wilcox Friday night at San Jose City College.
Serra (12-0) led just 15-6 after one quarter but exploded for 34 points in the second quarter to put the game away. The Serra defense shut down Wilcox’s vaunted rushing attack, holding the Chargers (8-4) to just 145 yards on the ground, nearly 200 yards below their season average.
Quarterback Tyson Bonilla and running back Elijah Walker were held to 14 and 27 rushing yards, respectively, forcing Wilcox to turn to the air. A pick-six by Serra cornerback Kyon Loud extended the Padres’ lead to 41-13 late in the second quarter, effectively ending the Chargers’ hopes for an upset.
Serra led from the opening kickoff as running back Dany Niu ran through several defenders for a 21-yard score to put the Padres up 7-0 just under three minutes into the game.
After a 9-yard touchdown run by Jojo Latu and a two-point conversion by Brooks Trimmer extended the lead to 15-0, the Chargers cut into the lead on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Bonilla to Maulidi Saleh on the final play of the first quarter to make it 15-6.
The Padres’ offensive line took over from there, creating space and time for quarterback Maealiuaki Smith to connect with his backs and receivers. The Oklahoma State-commit completed 11 out of 14 throws and had three total touchdowns on the night. Latu scored a second touchdown on a 21-yard run and Smith hit Loud on a 38-yard flea flicker to push the lead to 28-6.
Smith also scored on a 13-yard keeper and hit Loud again for a 32-yard score to make it 49-13 at the half.
For Serra, it was its fourth CCS Open Division title in the past decade – and the Padres were placed on a postseason ban for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The Padres will take on the winner of the Southern California championship game between Birmingham and Garfield for the Open Division state title.
Meanwhile, Wilcox gets another shot at a section title and another shot at PAL-Bay rival Los Gatos for the Division 1 title Friday night at San Jose City College.
