Once 0-5, Sacred Heart Cathedral set to play for title
There’s a historical slant to Sacred Heart Cathedral’s quest for a state football championship. But c’mon, that’s boring.
Sure, the Irish (8-7) will try to win their first state crown Saturday evening against Northview-Covina for the Division 4-A title. But that’s for old-timers to track.
Fans might want to come to Kezar Stadium for the sheer entertainment value.
“It is really a fun team to watch,” SHC coach Barry McLaughlin said. “They make a lot of big plays. Play with great passion. They have a lot of fun and the best part is they play for each other. In 19 years of coaching, I’ve never seen such genuine care for each other.”
Team chemistry can vanish during an 0-5 start, which the Irish endured this season. Instead, that adversity brought the players closer.
A 21-20 win over archrival St. Ignatius at Kezar started their winning ways. It has been one big play after another since then, starting at quarterback with Ray-John Spears throwing to receivers R.L. Miller and Bruce Uperesa and handing off to 6-foot-2, 230-pound tailback Jerry Mixon, a cousin of Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon.
Last week, Mixon was selected the West Catholic Athletic League Co-Utility Player of the Year along with Serra’s Hassan Mahasin. Mixon, Miller, Spears, Uperesa and defensive lineman Silas Bahlibi were chosen first-team All-WCAL.
In their 42-14 Central Coast Section semifinal win three weeks ago, the Irish had four plays of at least 57 yards: passes of 66 yards and 57 yards to Miller and Uperesa, respectively, an 89-yard run by Miller and a 62-yard burst from Mixon.
Spears is a master at evading pressure and throwing on the run. It’s not by coincidence.
“We practice scramble drills all the time,” McLaughlin said. “And his receivers don’t stop. They find open spaces. … When (Spears) does set his feet, I’m not sure I’ve coached a kid with a stronger arm.”
Charter flight: Picked as the top team in Northern California, Serra had a week off to prepare for the country’s top team, Mater Dei-Santa Ana, in Saturday’s Open Division title game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo (Orange County).
The Padres don’t want to wait much longer.
Rather than driving or taking a commercial flight to the game, Serra coach Patrick Walsh said the Padres are chartering a jet to fly to Long Beach on Thursday. The team, along with coaches, administrators and others — 135 strong — will be met on the Long Beach Airport tarmac by buses to whisk the team to lodging facilities.
“Anonymous donations,” Walsh said when asked how the charter flight was paid for. When pressed on whether Serra alum Tom Brady was a donor, Walsh said. “Anonymous.”
More controversy: The excitement of the Open Division title game has been dampened by a growing controversy surrounding Mater Dei. Following a report two weeks ago of an alleged hazing incident in February, a story by the Southern California News Group on Monday detailed a second lawsuit by another family concerning an alleged assault off campus by two football players in 2019.
Mater Dei officials last week said an outside firm of athletic leaders has been hired to conduct independent investigations. At the same time, the CIF, the state’s governing body, condemned hazing in a statement and “maintains that such conduct has no place in the educational settings.“
Without schools taking official action, the CIF said it has no course and “will not comment further on the allegations of hazing regarding Mater Dei High School.”
Basketball buzz: The top three Metro teams in The Chronicle’s Top 20 boys and girls basketball remained the same. … The No. 1 PinewoodLos Altos Hills and No. 2 Mitty girls seem on another collision course for the top spot. The Panthers opened with a 73-25 win over previous No. 12 LickWilmerding before routing No. 4 San Ramon Valley-Danville, 59-32. Elle Ladine scored 20 and 35 points, respectively. … Mitty’s girls have won their four games by an average score of 73-26.