Padres pile up 628 yards to reach title game
TULARE — Kazmeir Allen sprinted down his own sideline 65 yards into the end zone, handed the ball to the referee and walked slowly to his bench. A teammate patted him on the back. That was about it.
With 3 minutes, 44 seconds left in the second quarter, the Tulare Union senior back had just set a national record with his 72nd touchdown of the year en route to 293 first-half rushing yards.
But there was little else for the home team to celebrate.
That’s because the 5foot-10, 180-pound Allen could do nothing to slow Serra’s offense.
For the second straight year, the Padres (10-2) traveled to the Central Valley and ruined the hopes of a Central Section team, this time with a 76-43 CIF Northern California region Division 2-AA game Friday before about 5,000 chilly fans at Bob Mathias Stadium.
Serra piled up 628 yards while breaking a school record for points to offset the jaw-dropping talents of Allen, who finished with 27 carries for 347 yards and two scores. He also had two fumbles, one that was returned 62 yards for a score by Edmond Lahlouh in the third quarter.
“He might be the most impressive player I’ve ever seen in high school football,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “I have a lot of respect for him and their team. But I got a lot of respect for our guys, too. Our offense really had it rolling tonight.”
Serra’s offensive line overpowered the smaller Tulare Union front, paving the way for Isiah Kendrick (24 carries, 235 yards) and David Coker (nine for 165), who each rushed for three scores.
Junior quarterback Luke Bottari completed 11 of 13 passes for 163 yards and two scores, one to Patrick Nunn (eight catches, 85 yards). Lahlouh also rushed for two touchdowns.
Serra returns to Sacramento State next week to face Cajon, a 70-23 winner over Rancho Verde in the Southern California 2-AA region. That figures to be some shootout. Last year, the Padres lost to Sierra Canyon Chats worth 42-40 in the state 2-A title game.
“We need to get that turned around in Sacramento,” Walsh said. “This will help. We played really well.”
Serra took a couple of haymakers early, the second of which was a 91-yard touchdown spurt up the middle by Allen that put Tulare Union up 14-7. Serra didn’t flinch, however, and Kendrick had his own sprint to the end zone, a 67-yarder, to tie the game at 14. Then came a turning point. On the ensuing kickoff, Allen broke free and appeared to be off to his record-breaking
“He might be the most impressive player I’ve ever seen in high school football.” Serra coach Patrick Walsh on Tulare Union running back Kazmeir Allen
touchdown. He had gone 81 yards down the right sideline before senior safety Brandon Carbullido tripped him up the Serra 15.
Allen, a UCLA commit, was exhausted and, two plays later, fumbled and the Padres recovered. One play after a 36-yard pass from Bottari to Nunn, Coker sprinted around left end for a 30-yard touchdown. Serra led 21-14 with 2:28 left in the first quarter and was off and running.
“That flipped the whole game,” Walsh said. “I tell the guys all the time the fire burns from the bottom, so for a kid on special teams to make that play is what we’re all about.”