Davis Drives Serra to Victory Over Century

GARDENA — Quarterback Eugene Davis engineered two first-quarter touchdown drives and Gardena Serra defeated Century in a Southern Section Division VII first-round playoff game, 14-12, Friday night at Serra High School.

Serra will play La Mirada in the second round Friday night.

Davis threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Rashaan Shehee with 7 minutes 18 seconds left in the first quarter to give Serra a 7-0 lead. Davis then scored from one yard with 2:44 remaining in the quarter as the Cavaliers (8-2), champions from the Camino Real League, increased their lead to 14-0.

Century (7-4) scored with 10:02 left in the third quarter as Paul Tanny caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Karlo Balderrama to make it 14-6 after the conversion kick was blocked. The Centurions then scored with 10:52 left on Tanny’s seven-yard run, but Century’s two-point conversion attempt to tie the score failed when Balderrama overthrew Tanny in the corner of the end zone.

With 4:59 left, Serra fumbled at the Century seven-yard line, and Century drove to its 48-yard line before failing on fourth and 14 with 2:52 remaining. Serra then regained possession and ran out the clock.