HS FOOTBALL: Alemany clinches Serra title with 28-14 win

On a cold night with the Serra League football title on the line, Alemany High rose to the occasion Friday with a muddy 28-14 victory over visiting Loyola before a crowd of about 3,500.

Devon Dunn passed for three touchdowns, including a 4-yarder to Corey Sims for the go-ahead touchdown with 46 seconds remaining, then Alemany (7-2, 3-0) put an exclamation point on the victory when Steven Mitchell returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown in the final seconds.

"When I saw the football in the air, I had to take it. The ball was mine," Sims said. "That kept the team alive, and it feels great to get the win. It's all about execution."

Dunn, a junior, completed 10 in a row at one point, finishing 15 of 20 for 147 yards, and he also rushed for 50 yards on 16 carries. He has passed for 2,032 yards and 20 touchdowns.

"Devon came up big," Alemany coach Dean Herrington said. "In all three of our league games, he has been outstanding. He's playing really well, and our defense played great tonight. Loyola couldn't run the ball, and when that happens, the defense is usually doing something."

Alemany has won five league titles in a row, two since moving up to the Serra League in the Pac-5 Division, the Southern Section's most competitive division.

Alemany held touted running back Wyatt Bradford to 79 yards 17 carries. Except for a 38-yard touchdown run, Bradford did gain more than six yards on any of his other attempts, as Loyola (7-2, 2-1) was limited to 270 yards.

"Everyone says we're not as good as we've been in the past, so this was a big step," Alemany defensive lineman Kyle DeVaughn said. "The defense played well. Loyola is a great running team but not tonight."

Alemany's Jerico Richardson scored on touchdown receptions of 13 and 7 yards, and he also played tough defense at safety.

"This feels good. It was an exciting game," Richardson said. "The defense was definitely fired up, and we wanted to show how physical we are as we get ready for the playoffs."

Alemany can win the title outright with a victory in the finale Friday at Notre Dame.

Alemany's Major Armstead rushed for 57 yards on nine carries, and Richardson had five receptions for 42 yards. Loyola's Nicholas Cotton completed 13 of 25 passes for 178 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown to Kodi Whitfield.