Around the Bay

Championship teams typically respond triumphantly after swings in momentum, and by now there is no doubt that Serra (10-2) is a championship-caliber team.

Valley Christian played a better game Saturday than it did on Serra’s home field a month ago, but the result was familiar.

Serra advanced to the Central Coast Section Open Division II final with a 31-14 victory, an outcome that stretched the Padres’ winning streak to nine games and set up a heavyweight clash for the championship next weekend against St. Francis.

Serra played its first game without Cal-bound lineman Atonio Mafi, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last week. The Padres took control by getting out to a 21-7 advantage.

Luke Bottari’s 45-yard pass to Patrick Nunn moved Serra inside the Valley Christian 5. Two plays later, Bottari scored on a sneak for a 7-0 lead. The lead grew to 14-0 early in the second quarter. Valley Christian got in the board with a Cory Taylor 32-yard strike over the middle to Alton Julian. But Kendrick returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the Valley Christian 41. Three snaps later, Serra’s Edmond Lahlouh scored on a 5-yard run for a 21-7 advantage.

Division IV

The Leland running attack made a huge statement in the host Chargers’ 52-20 victory over Santa Clara in a Central Coast Section Division IV football playoff semifinal Friday night. One week after managing only 116 rushing yards and no touchdowns in a 10-7 victory over Willow Glen, the No. 1 seed Chargers (11-1) rushed for 387 yards, including 307 first-half yards, and all six of the Chargers’ seven touchdowns.

Division V

Jake Shiff’s 3-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left lifted Menlo to a wild 26-21 victory on its home field over Scotts Valley in a CCS Division V semifinal. Menlo pulled to within 21-20 earlier in the final quarter on 33-yard pass from Emilio Simbeck to Kevin Chen, but the point-after kick sailed wide left.

North Coast Section

John Torchio completed 8 of 10 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns as top seed Campolindo cruised into the NCS Division II championship game with a 45-14 rout of Windsor. The Cougars, who won section, regional and state titles last season, led 14-0 after one quarter and 42-0 at halftime. Sophomore Grant Harper also completed 8 of 10 passes for Campolindo, finishing with 111 yards and a TD.