Palos Verdes has won their first CIF Championship since 2014 in a 23-7 victory over La Serna. The Sea Kings finish the season with a 9-5 record, while the Lancers drop to 10-4. Despite what the score would suggest, this game was a slugfest for all 48 minutes. 

La Serena quarterback Grady Long threw a 35-yard bomb to receiver Zeb Vonteps in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. 

The Lancers would hold onto this lead until seven minutes left in the fourth quarter when Palos Verdes safety Camden Hughes intercepted the football and returned it 85 yards to the house. On the very next drive, defensive lineman Giuseppe Virzi forced a fumble on a strip sack and the ball was recovered at La Serena’s own 10-yard line. 

Sea Kings quarterback Ryan Rakowski would capitalize on the Lancer’s costly error and run for an 8-yard score. 

It would only get better for Palos Verdes as on the drive after, linebacker Josh Williams would get a safety with four minutes to go in the game, pushing the lead to 16-7 in favor of the Sea Kings. 

Quarterback Ryan Rakowski would deliver the dagger on their final drive of the night, running in for his second rushing touchdown and extending the lead to 23-7. The Sea Kings defense would get a fourth down stop in the final minute of the game to complete the victory. 

Palos Verdes finally climbed all the way back up to the CIF mountain top. A team that struggled with a lackluster 2-4 start went on a 7-1 run to finish the season at 9-5 and have achieved football immortality. 

Baseball Legend Yogi Berra once said in 1973, “It’s not over ‘til it’s over”. Spectacular runs like what Palos Verdes accomplished always prove that if you don’t give up, it truly isn’t over until it’s over, as just a few major moments can drastically change everything.

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