Rivals Recap: Serra-Westlake

GARDENA,Calif.-Serraerasedanearlytwo-touchdowndeficitagainstvisitingWestlakeonFridaynighttoadvancetothenextroundoftheCIFSouthernSectionPac-5Divisionplayoffs.Hereareafewtakeaways.

Iwasimpressedwith...

ArizonaquarterbackcommitKhalilTatefromSerracontinuedhisstellarseniorseason,throwingforthreetouchdownsandrunningforanothertoleadthecomebackeffort.Westlakediditsbesttocontainthedual-threatprospectwithvariousspylooks,butTatehasawayofwigglingoutofpressureandgettingtotheedgewhereheuseshisspeedtogainchunksofyards.Hewasabitinconsistentasapasser,missingafewopenreceivers,andhealsolosthandleoftheballacoupletimes,butheprovedonceagainwhyheisconsideredoneofthestate'stopplaymakers.

Four-starwidereceiverTheoHoward,whorecentlycommittedtoUCLA,hadagoodnightforWestlakeinthelosingeffort,haulingin11passesforover140yardsandatouchdown.Thescoringplaycameveryearlyonafaderoutenearthegoalline,andHowarddidwelltogoupfortheballandgetafootdowninbounds.WestlakewenttohimtimeaftertimeoncrucialthirddownsandHowardmanagedtofindopenspaceeventhoughthedefenseknewwheretheballwasheaded.

Iwassurprisedwith...

BrandonBurton,theNo.3athleteinthe2016class,hasshownhiscapabilitiesatsafetyandwidereceiverthelastfewyears,whichiswhysomanynationalprogramshaveextendedscholarshipoffers.Buthehasanotherdimensiontohisgamethatthosesuitorsmightwanttolookinto-puntreturning.Burtonhadacoupleelectrifyingreturns,makingthefirstfewdefendersmissbeforeusinghisvisiontobreakdownfield.He'sahard-hittingsafetyondefense,astrongwideoutonoffenseanddeceivinglydangerousonspecialteams.BurtonisscheduledtotakehisfourthofficialvisitnextweekendtoOhioState.

Four-stardefensiveendWoleBetikuClickOtherthoughts...HeretoviewthisLink.didnotsuitupduetoashoulderinjury,buthewashopefulhewouldbereadytogonextweekinthematchupagainstMaterDei.BetikutookaredeyeflighttotheMidwestforhisofficialvisittoNotreDameClickOtherthoughts...HeretoviewthisLink..

KeepaneyeonMerlinRobertsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.asacandidateforthenextbigrecruitatSerra.Thesophomoreshowedversatilityinplayingvariousspotsandscoredatouchdownonoffense.

Kobe SmithClick Here to view this Link. could be another top-flight receiver to emerge out of Serra. The sophomore had a fantastic diving catch for the go-ahead touchdown, using his instincts to beat the cornerback and length to extend for the football.

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