SAN MATEO — In 2016, Serra lost its first four games. The Padres reeled off 10 straight wins to finish as a state runner-up.
In 2017, Serra lost two out of three games out of the gate. The Padres didn’t suffer another defeat en route to an outright West Catholic Athletic League title and a state championship, the first in program history.
Last year, Serra once again lost two out of three to open the season. But after a 7-5 campaign, the Padres didn’t live up to expectations.
“We’ve lost games here before, we haven’t won 151 games in a row like the Spartans,” said Serra coach Patrick Walsh, referring to his alma mater — De La Salle. “We don’t set out or intend to lose games, but sometimes it happens in life where you have setbacks. We just didn’t like the way we lost last year. It just wasn’t up to our standards in a sense.
“A lot of it was situational and bad luck and all that good stuff, but at the end of the day we can only control our effort and our toughness and how organized we are. And that’s what we’ve been focusing on this offseason.”
The Padres will count on leadership from wide receiver/cornerback Terence Loville and defensive end Nusi Malani, both rated on the Bay Area Preps HQ Fab 40 player list — both on varsity as sophomores in 2017 for the run at a state title.
“We can’t look into the future,” Malani said.
“Take every opponent just one week at a time,” said Loville, who led the team with 589 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches. “Prepare differently for every team.”
The backfield will feature three-year starter Nate Sanchez, who ran for 498 yards and eight TDs as a junior.
“He’ll be one of the biggest playmakers on our team,” Walsh said.
The offensive line is untested, with last year’s right tackle Nate Azzopardi the lone returner.
“The line crew is really tight-knit this year,” Walsh said. “We’ve got a new weight room and it’s kind of providing a boost to the kids and they’re eager to be strong. There’s been a great tradition of o-lines and d-lines that they want to uphold.”
But the biggest void on offense is at quarterback after three-year starter Luke Bottari was lost to graduation.
How do you replace a state champion under center?
“You don’t,” Walsh said. “You just say your prayers and feel lucky and blessed we’ve been able to have such a great person and quarterback. He’s unduplicable, so it’s next-man-up time and right now Daylin McLemore has had an incredible offseason and looks to be our starting quarterback this year. I trust him and I trust his mindset and his initiative to be a quarterback.”
In the trenches, Malani will be a nuisance alongside fellow senior Marcellus Eison, an interior defensive lineman.
“We’re leaning on him to kind of cement the inside of the defense,” Walsh said.
An experienced secondary consists of Loville at cornerback plus Jarred Quilter and Damon Lewis, the latter better known for his kicking duties. At safety, Sanchez will get help from Jackson Lataimua.
The biggest question is at linebacker.
“It’s probably our most inexperienced position,” Walsh said. “We have three or four guys gunning to be starters there, so it remains to be seen through training who emerges at that position. We’re going to need some guys to step up and anchor the middle of the defense.”
Before a rugged WCAL slate, the Padres will be tested in nonleague portion of the schedule by Pittsburg, 2018 state champion Menlo-Atherton and St. Mary’s-Stockton.
“We scheduled three wins, we like to limp into the season here at Serra,” said Walsh, in his most sarcastic tone.
No. 4 Serra
Last season: 7-5
League record: 5-2 West Catholic Athletic League
Key matchups: vs. Pittsburg, Aug. 31; vs. Menlo-Atherton, Sept. 7; at St. Francis, Oct. 18; vs. Valley Christian, Nov. 2
Key returners: Nusi Malani, Sr., DE; Terence Loville, Sr., WR/CB; Nate Sanchez, Sr., RB/FS; Nate Azzopardi, Sr., OT/DE; Marcellus Eison, Sr., DL