Serrano shows off playoff form

HESPERIA • Serrano finished the regular season with a 39-0 whitewashing of Sultana on Friday night at Jay Reed Field.

“This team lived up to expectations this year,” Serrano coach Ray Maholchic said. “It was a tough preseason and I thought we’d be an 8-2 or 7-3 team. The teams we lost to played us tough. The kids played well and we were a play here and a play there from being better. I’m proud of the kids.”

The Diamondbacks took advantage of Sultana’s turnovers to jump out to a 32-0 halftime lead and never looked back.

The first of Sultana’s (0-10, 0-4 MRL) five turnovers led to Serrano’s (7-3, 3-1 MRL) first touchdown. The Diamondbacks took over at the Sultans’ 11-yard line following a muffed snap on a punt attempt. Junior Dionza Bradford scored the first of three consecutive touchdowns with an 11-yard run around the right end.

The Diamondbacks got their second score on a 25-yard Bradford run which capped an 84-yard, seven-play drive.

With the Sultans driving, Serrano cornerback Courtney Webb intercepted a pass and returned it 48 yards to the Sultana 44-yard line. Following a 25-yard pass completion from Alex Spainhower to Aaron Stocks, Bradford — who had 94 rushing yards on six carries — scored his third touchdown on a 19-yard burst up the middle.

The Sultans had more trouble punting on the next series when Serrano’s Devin Borbon blocked a punt. Teammate Ethan Hillyer scooped up the ball at the 10-yard line and waltzed into the end zone for the score.

Another muffed punt attempt by Sultana put the Diamondbacks at the Sultans’ 13-yard line. Spainhower then hooked up with Jamaal Franklin for the first of his two touchdown catches.

Serrano’s final seven points came with 5:50 left in the third quarter after Sultana gave up the ball on downs at its own 30-yard line. Three plays later, Spainhower and Franklin connected again, this time for a 27-yard touchdown.

Serrano 12 20 7 0 — 39
Sultana 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter
Se. — Bradford 11 run (kick failed)
Se. — Bradford 25 run (pass failed)
Second Quarter
Se. — Bradford 19 run (kick failed)
Se. — Figueroa 10 blocked punt return (Bellanger kick)
Se. — Franklin 13 pass from A. Spainhower (Bellanger kick)
Third Quarter
Se. — Franklin 27 pass from A. Spainhower (Bellanger kick)