Serra’s Robert Vlazny (25) consoles teammate Charles Walsh (1) after being defeated by Saint Mary’s during their CIF NorCal Division 2-AA Championship game at Saint Mary's High School in Stockton, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Saint Mary’s defeated Serra 31-24. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
STOCKTON — For a fleeting moment on a frigid Friday night in Stockton, it felt as if Serra was about to punch its ticket back to a state title game.
The Padres had seized the momentum, their visiting crowd roaring as the once-deafening St. Mary’s-Stockton supporters fell silent for the first time all evening.
But within minutes, the script flipped and it was Serra’s players sobbing on the sideline as St. Mary’s hoisted the NorCal Division 2-AA regional championship trophy and a berth in next week’s state title game after a 31-24 win at home.
Serra’s heartbreak came after what looked like a storybook finish. A late go-ahead score gave the Padres a one-point lead with under three minutes left.
But St. Mary’s, riding a postseason wave of poise and clutch execution, responded with a four-play, game-winning drive — the Rams’ fourth straight playoff victory sealed in the final minutes.
Still, it was a valiant run for a Serra team that was doubted by some for its youth and rough start to the season.
“I think the word I used for this group is resilient. From starting off 0-3 to jumping into league play with a lot of doubt … we got the most out of this team,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “I don’t think anyone should have any doubts about that.”
Halfway through the fourth quarter, St. Mary’s strung together what looked like a momentum-shifting drive as the Rams marched 51 yards in 11 plays, ending with a pass from Jaden Galvan to Kenneth Moore III to put the Stockton school up 23-17 with four minutes left.
But after a blocked point-after attempt, the Padres had the ball down six with a chance to tie or take the lead.
The Padres took advantage.
Freshman quarterback William Orr found junior receiver Charlie Walsh for a 62-yard gain to set up Serra in the red zone.
Three plays later, Andrew Takapautolo found the end zone on a two-yard plunge to give Serra the lead with under three minutes to go.
“I thought that was the dagger,” Charlie Walsh said.
But as Serra’s sideline celebrated, St. Mary’s players were eerily calm. The Rams, having mounted comebacks in the last three weeks, didn’t panic.
A feeling of ‘Did Serra score too quick?’ reverberated through some of the many media members lingering on St. Mary’s side of the field.
And like a team that had seen this script before, St. Mary’s only needed four plays to rip down the field for a clutch touchdown.
Galvan found Ivan Huerta for a 67-yard pitch and catch that ultimately set up a three-yard rushing touchdown from Diego Hernandez.
With just 34.7 seconds remaining, Serra miraculously made it to the St. Mary’s side of the field, and had one last shot at tying the game.
But when the Padres dropped back to pass on the Rams’ 25-yard-line, St. Mary’s junior Jack Lucatello sacked Orr and ended Serra’s chances of getting back to a state title game.
The loss will sting for Serra, but the future is bright for the San Mateo school.
Charlie Walsh, Orr, Takapautolo and highly-touted safety Malakai Taufoou are all slated to return next season.
“We couldn’t get it done, but that’s OK,” Charlie Walsh said. “They’re a great team, I just wish I could have done more for this team.”
A teary-eyed Walsh made sure to thank his senior class as they exited the Sprague Family Field House and onto the buses headed back to San Mateo.
“They were always full of energy and they have nothing to be ashamed of,” Walsh said. “I know they wanted to get more, and they went after it, but we just came up short. But the pain would truly be in the lack of effort, the pain would be in the lack of enthusiasm. But there was zero of that tonight, and I’m proud of that.”
