Sierra Canyon football remains unbeaten, blanks Serra in Mission League opener

CHATSWORTH — A relatively uneventful first half between Sierra Canyon and Serra football took a turn at the end of the third quarter on Friday night.

Lining up for an offensive play, the majority of Sierra Canyon’s players fell down in unison and tended to what appeared to be cramps.

Several Serra players had been dealing with cramps at different points during the game.

Chaos ensued as Serra’s coaching staff charged the middle of the field and voiced their displeasure with what had happened.

After the game, a 30-0 victory for Sierra Canyon, players did not meet for handshakes and Sierra Canyon players were ushered to the locker room.

Sierra Canyon head coach Jon Ellinghouse met with Serra coaches and its athletic director after the game.

“I really thought our kids handled it well to be honest with you. I don’t think we really had an issue from our end,” Ellinghouse said. “I think in some ways it got our kids playing hard. We kept our guys on our side of the field and we adjusted. I think both teams cooled down, calmed down and we didn’t have an incident afterwards. Nobody got ejected, which I thought was the right call. Both teams did a good job of calming down and respect to Serra, they didn’t do anything either.”

Before the ruckus at the end of the third quarter, the game had been relatively quiet from an offensive standpoint.

Junior kicker Carter Sobel, playing in his first game after the CIF’s mandatory sit-out period for transferring, made three out of four field goals for the only points in the first half.

Sierra Canyon’s defense got on the board in the second half, scoring twice on interception returns, one by Havon Finney Jr. and one by Myles Baker.

The Trailblazers didn’t allow a first down all game and the Cavaliers didn’t complete a pass.

“We’ve played great defense all year. It’s a great group of kids, really experienced and good football players,” Ellinghouse said. “It’s a special group of kids and it’s fun to watch them play. I’m really proud of the way our defense played tonight.”

Sierra Canyon will play Chaminade next week and look to continue its undefeated season.

Serra plays Loyola in its second Mission League game.