Serra football leans on defense in tough win over Oaks Christian

TORRANCE — It took a drive to get settled, but Serra’s defense was up to the task of keeping Oaks Christian’s offense one-dimensional in Friday’s nonleague football matchup.

USC-commit Deshonne Redeaux ran for 171 yards, but Serra’s defense limited the rest of the Lions offense to 29 yards while grabbing three interceptions before grinding out a 19-10 victory at El Camino College.

“Our game plan was to stop the run,” Wilder said. “We didn’t do the best of that in the first half, but as our linebackers filled up the gaps more and our defensive line stayed firm in our gaps, we were able to stop the outside run.”

Redeaux utilized the Lions’ outside-zone scheme to perfection on the opening drive. The USC commit carried the ball four times on the game’s opening drive, gaining all 63 yards, including a 32-yard pickup on the first play from scrimmage, before scoring on a 7-yard run to put Oaks Christian ahead 7-0 with 10:46 to play.

“We didn’t start off well,” Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. “(Oaks Christian) marched down the field and I thought it was going to be one of those games.

On the first play of the second quarter, Redeaux scampered for a 54-yard pickup before Serra’s defense held, forcing the Lions to kick a 23-yard field goal. Redeaux totaled 142 yards in the first half before finishing with 171 yards. The USC-commit left the game early in the fourth quarter with a lower-body injury.

Altenberg credited the defensive staff, including coordinator Ivan Stevenson, for changing things up.

“(Stevenson) did an amazing job,” Altenberg said. “We adjusted and played great the rest of the way.”

Playing without offensive weapons Devohn Mountra jr. and Jayshawn Edwards wasn’t a hiccup for the Cavaliers. Treyvon Hundley went 49 yards on a draw play to cap an 83-yard drive to make it 7-6 .

Sonny Jones’ 23-yard field goal put Oaks Christian ahead 10-6 before Serra responded. Daylawn Reed picked up 18 yards on the series’ first play before Nicolas Johnson connected with Kenton Dangerfield for a 30-yard pickup on a play-action pass.

Seven plays later, Reed bullied his way into the end zone for a 6-yard scoring run that put Serra ahead 12-10 with 4:14 to play in the second quarter.

“(Reed) is a great running back. We’ve spent a lot of time isolating him at running back because we know he can carry the load,” Altenberg said. “You give him a chance and he’s going to do it.”

Serra’s defense came up clutch on Oaks Christian’s ensuing drive. Marcellous Ryan came up with an interception to give the Cavaliers offense the ball at the Lions 26.

“Coming off two losses, we were down in momentum,” Wilder said. “Those interceptions really picked up the whole team’s spirit. When one person makes a big play, we’re taught to feed off that momentum. It got us going.”

Four plays later, Reed scored from 8 yards out to put Serra ahead 19-10 with 1:33 to play in the opening half.

Reed racked up 86 yards of his 114 yards in the first half, along with a pair of touchdowns on 21 carries.

Serra’s defense came out in the second half intent on slowing Redeaux. The Cavaliers forced Oaks Christian to punt on its first drive of the second half before Jamari Tolliver’s interception ended the Lions’ second drive of the half.

“We knew we could get some yards off our dual runs, and we were successful in the first half,” Oaks Christian coach Charles Collins said.

Oaks Christian (1-4) got as close as the Serra 6 before Sonny Jones missed a 23-yard field goal with 11:13 to play.

“We knew it was going to be that kind of game where we had to score when we had those opportunities and sure enough, we didn’t score,” Collins said. “It came back to hurt us in the end.”