Serra riding talented senior class
There are 11 undefeated teams left in the WPIAL going into Week 6, but one team stands out above the rest.
Coming off a trip to the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals last year, No. 2 Serra Catholic is off to a scorching start in 2021 with a 7-0 record through the first six weeks of the season. How is that possible, you ask? Well, the Eagles received a forfeit for their scheduled game vs. Carlynton on Sept. 24, and they also scheduled a makeup game for that same week, defeating Freeport, 14-3.
There’s still a lot of season left, but Serra could be on its way to what would likely be the first 11-0 regular season in WPIAL history. WIth a legitimate shot to head to Heinz Field for the WPIAL title game, though, that record is the last thing on the Eagles’ minds.
“We’re hungry. We want it,” said Serra coach Jose Regus. “Getting close last year, feeling that feeling, one game away from the championship — we really want it.”
It’s not hard to see why the Eagles are soaring above the competition so far this year. The team is loaded with talent, and it all starts with a veteran group of seniors who have each been making a big impact for several years at Serra.
Senior quarterback Max Rocco spearheads the offense, having passed for 1,142 yards and 15 touchdowns with only four interceptions through the first six games. He has no shortage of weapons to throw to, from speedy seniors Terrell Booth, Jayvon Holt and Pharoh Fisher to newly added junior slot receiver Amire Spencer, who transferred in from Brentwood.
Booth leads the team with 399 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, while he and Spencer are tied for the team lead with 16 receptions. Holt isn’t far behind with 14 catches for 226 yards and seven scores. Fisher only has four catches so far this year, but he’s averaging 24.8 yards per catch and 23 yards per rush and has already scored five touchdowns.
“With those guys like Fisher and Booth and Holt, the speed — those guys are athletes, man,” Regus said.
“It’s definitely hard for anybody to get on the field in front of them.”
In the backfield, shifty senior tailback Machai Brooks-Dutrieuille is leading the way once again with 522 yards and three touchdowns on 77 carries. At 5 feet 6, 170 pounds, BrooksDutrieuille is far from the most physically imposing running back in the WPIAL, but he is a nightmare for opposing defenders to try to tackle in the open field.
“He’s definitely running with authority and making a lot of guys miss as well,” Regus said. “He scored three touchdowns this past weekend. He had a couple injuries he was dealing with [earlier in the season].”
With such a surplus of offensive weapons, finding ways to spread the ball around and keep all the skilled backs and receivers involved in the offense is actually one of the biggest challenges for Regus and the rest of his staff.
“That’s the hard part, you know what I mean? We’ve got so many talented guys out there making two or three touchdowns per game,” Regus said. “To spread the ball around is kind of tough. It just depends on whose day it is.”
For as much talent as the Eagles have on offense, though, it’s their defense that is really giving opponents fits. Serra is allowing an average of only six points per game, and no opponent has scored more than 14 points on the Eagles yet this season. Not surprisingly, the same players lighting up scoreboards on offense are the ones shutting opponents down on defense.
“The defense is scoring every game,” Regus said. “I think [last week was] the first game the defense didn’t score.”
Of course, the most difficult stretch of Serra’s schedule still lies ahead, with a showdown vs. a solid Ligonier Valley team on the road coming up on Friday. The Eagles will then travel to Apollo-Ridge the following week, and they’ll close out the season at undefeated Class 2A No. 5 Steel Valley on Oct. 29 in a game that will likely decide the Allegheny Conference champion — not to mention playoff seeding.
“Our kids know their kids. It should be pretty good,” Regus said. “Big clash for the conference title.”