Riordan defense scores twice in opening victory

It was sloppy, at times ragged, but Riordan’s 3420 home victory Saturday over Sacred Heart Cathedral in the football opener for both San Francisco schools was welcomed by all involved.

The Crusaders got defensive touchdowns from Aden Jackson (80yard fumble return) and Kemoe’atu Kefu (35yard interception return) en route to a 200 firstquarter lead, then survived three touchdown passes from Sacred Heart Cathedral quarterback Cian Dowling to win both teams’ first game in 16 months.

Riordan’s Fazon Ruth contributed two secondhalf touchdown runs and Jackson added a second TD on a run. Tyrice Ivy Jr. had TD receptions of 28 and 27 yards for Sacred Heart Cathedral, and Bruce Uperesa added a 17yard touchdown catch from Dowling.

“There were a lot of mistakes and turnovers, but both teams played super hard and it was a great game for so many reasons,” Riordan coach Mark Modeste said after the West Catholic Athletic League game. “The kids were just overjoyed to be out there. It was definitely a special day.”

Said Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Barry McLaughlin: “At one point in the second half I think we had seven sophomores in and a couple firstyear juniors. A lot of kids got a lot of good reps. Both teams played hard. It was great to be out there.”

#7 Marin Catholic-Kentfield 35,

San Marin-Novato 0: Michael Ingrassia completed 24 of 31 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns, two to John Kreps (six catches, 139 yards) as the host Wildcats led 35-0 at halftime in both teams’ openers. UC Davis signee Matteo Perez added eight carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns. The game was played under a running clock most of the second half. Marin Catholic recorded six sacks.

Friday

#2 Serra 33, #4 Valley Christian 26: Junior quarterback Dominique Lampkin accounted for 287 yards and four touchdown passes, including two to Hassan Mahasin (six catches, 104 yards) and one each to Christian Pedersen and Joey Villaroman as the visiting Padres (1-0) beat the Warriors (0-1). After a 21-yard TD pass from Lampkin to Villaroman made it 26-10, Valley Christian closed to 26-18 on a 17-yard TD run by junior quarterback Jakson Berman (243 total yards, three TDs) and a twopoint conversion with 8:59 left. Serra seemed to have delivered the dagger with a 13-play, 60-yard TD drive that was capped by a 12-yard TD run from Petelo Gi with 1:35 remaining, making it 33-18. But it took just one play for Berman to connect with 4-star sophomore receiver Jurrion Dickey (five catches, 100 yards) on a 60-yard TD. It was Dickey’s second touchdown catch and a two-point conversion made it 33-26 with just more than a minute to go. When the Warriors recovered the ensuing onside kick, they had a chance to tie or go for the win. A pass play went inside the Serra 15, but a penalty for a block in the back put the ball back to the 34. Two plays later, a sack, fumble and Serra recovery sealed the win for the Padres.

#3 Pittsburg 59, Freedom-Oakley 14: Matthew Quesada returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown and the onslaught was on for the host Pirates, who got big games from quarterbacks Eli Brickhandler and Jaden Rashada, and bigger games from their defense and special teams. Daytuawn Pearson scored on a 52-yard punt return and Jakobe Harmon recovered an errant long snap in the end zone. The Pirates allowed just 92 yards of total offense. Player death: The Sacramento Bee reported that Kennedy-Sacramento senior lineman Emmanuel Antwi died after collapsing on the sideline in the fourth quarter of a game Friday. The game was stopped and did not resume after 10 minutes of CPR was performed on Antwi before he was taken to a local hospital. In a press release sent Saturday, the Sacramento Unified School District said: “We do not have many details to share beyond this. Our hearts go out to Emmanuel’s family and our school community during this difficult time. We ask all to give them privacy and time for healing and comfort as they grieve.”