If tough games are the ideal preparation for league, then nobody is more prepared for the start of the Del Rey League than Serra High School’s football team.

Getting their first serious test, the Cavaliers (5-0) watched an early 17-0 lead disappear, then regained their footing to defeat Taft, one of the City Section’s top teams, 26-20 in overtime. Shaquille Richard’s five-yard run on the third play of the extra period kept them among the unbeatens.

Ranked ninth in the state by maxpreps.com, Serra opens Del Rey play Friday at Bishop Montgomery (1-4). The Knights are looking to bounce back from a 27-10 loss to El Segundo.

Considering Taft has its share of superb athletes, including USC commit D.J. Morgan, Serra figured to be pushed. It was.

Morgan carried 25 times for 119 yards and quarterback Antuan Goodall passed for 205 yards, including a 63-yarder to Donnell Robinson that tied the score with three minutes left in regulation.

Robert Woods, a future teammate of Morgan’s at USC, caught seven passes for 119 yards and a TD and intercepted two passes to lead the Cavaliers.

George Farmer had five catches for 108 yards and quarterback Conner Preston was 17-of-28 for 274 yards passing.

Defensively for the Cavaliers, lineman Jason Gibson was in on 13 tackles and had three sacks. Sean Bacon was in on 14 tackles and had two sacks. Marqise Lee had a pair of interceptions.

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In a game in which the offense produced 42 points, Verbum Dei football coach James Durk was more pleased with a defense that allowed 12.

The Eagles (3-2) were actually pretty effective on both sides of the ball against St. Bernard in their final nonleague game. They open Camino Real League play against La Salle (3-3) at 7 p.m. Saturday at St. Matthias in Downey.

La Salle is coming off a 42-20 loss to Temple City.

“We were in control from the outset,” Durk said. “I was pleased with the defensive effort. Needless to say, St. Bernard has some skill players and we were in the right spot at the right time against them. Our guys did their assignments for the most part, with the exception of the two touchdowns.”

Durk cited the play of freshman defensive tackle Aaron Beal, Terrance Harper and Ashton Whyte. Beal had two tackles for loss, Harper was in on nine tackles (five solo) and White had four tackles from his spot at corner.

“Beal did a real solid job,” Durk said. “White is a Pac-10-type corner.”

Darryl Williams and Sean McCormick had interceptions for the Eagles.

Offensively, sophomore Anthony Charles carried 25 times for 208 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 71 yards. Fullback Mark Sanchez added 104 yards and a TD on nine carries.

Charles has 643 yards rushing in four games. He missed the Lakewood game.

“It was nice to have Anthony Charles firing on all cylinders,” Durk said.

Williams completed 10 of 17 passes for 170 yards and two TDs and he ran for a score. The TD passes went to Preston Prince and Dylan Hall.

Durk feels La Salle is better than its record indicates.

“They’ve got some good athletes,” he said. “Their losses were to quality opponents.”

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Te Shon Burton passed for 104 yards and three TDs, while running back Trevon Davis and wide receiver Denzel Idris scored three times each as Leuzinger (4-1) handed Hawthorne its 37th consecutive defeat by a score of 61-7.
Hawthorne (0-5) had one highlight, that on an 80-yard kickoff return for a score by Devonte Sims to start the game.

Inglewood (2-3) lost to Palos Verdes, 20-13 despite Shashaun Alexander throwing for 196 yards and a TD and running for another score for the Sentinels (2-3). Patrick Onwasor caught five passes for 128 yards, including a 67-yarder for a TD. Onwasor’s 36-yard reception set up Alexander’s six-yard scoring run.

Compton (3-2, 1-1) bounced back from a humbling 61-0 loss to Lakewood with a 61-19 rout of Cabrillo (0-6, 0-2) in a Moore League game.

James McConico carried 12 times for 277 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Tarbabes, who host Long Beach Wilson Friday.