In short: La Serna Lancers high school football (Whittier, CA), 2026 season: 8-1 in the Gateway League. Last game: W 42-14 vs Mayfair on October 23, 2026. Next: at Downey, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The turnover battle could decide La Serna's next game, against Downey, and the recent returns favor Downey. La Serna committed 0.2 giveaways per game over its first 4 games (4-0), #11 in CIF-SS in that timeframe. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), the Lancers have committed 2.2 giveaways per game, a 780% rise, #351 in CIF-SS in that window. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 1.5 per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.6 per game), La Serna turned it over 40% more than those defenses usually force. Conversely, Downey's defense has been one of CIF-SS's better units in recent weeks. The Vikings have forced 3.0 takeaways per game over their last 5 games (4-1), #9 in CIF-SS during that time. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of offenses in CIF-SS (1.5 per game on the season, which would rank #262). Against those norms, Downey forced 103% more turnovers than those offenses usually give up. Unless La Serna's ball security rediscovers its early form, the edge in this matchup belongs to Downey.
NOTES
The biggest worry in La Serna's season has been the direction of its defense. La Serna forced 3.0 takeaways per game over its first 4 games (4-0), #15 in CIF-SS through those games. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), the Lancers have forced 0.6 takeaways per game, an 80% drop, #328 in CIF-SS through that stretch. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 1.6 per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.5 per game), La Serna forced 60% fewer turnovers than those offenses usually give up. On the season, La Serna ranks #106 in CIF-SS in takeaways. Downey's ball security sits in the middle of the pack, #106 in CIF-SS (1.0 per game).
The Lancers allowed 10.1 yards per pass attempt (1,053 yards on 104 attempts) over their first 5 games (4-1), #343 in CIF-SS over that stretch. Few teams started slower in this department, and few have turned it around as sharply since. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (4-0), La Serna has allowed 4.6 yards per pass attempt (429 yards on 94 attempts), a 55% drop, #32 in CIF-SS within that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 8.0 yards per attempt on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (8.2 yards per attempt), La Serna held those passing attacks 44% below their usual yards per attempt. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 4 opponents average a rating that would rank #190 in CIF-SS, well below the first 5 (#92), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, the Lancers rank #173 in CIF-SS in pass defense. Downey's passing game sits in the middle of the pack, #110 in CIF-SS (9.0 yards per attempt).
La Serna's defense has come a long way since the season's early weeks. La Serna allowed 7.4 yards per play (1,403 yards on 190 snaps) over its first 5 games (4-1), #275 in CIF-SS across those games. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (4-0), the Lancers have allowed 4.8 yards per play (779 yards on 163 snaps), a 35% drop, #47 in CIF-SS during those games. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 6.7 yards per play on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.6 yards per play), La Serna held those offenses 27% below their usual yards per snap. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 4 opponents average a rating that would rank #190 in CIF-SS, well below the first 5 (#92), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, La Serna ranks #153 in CIF-SS in yards per play allowed. That form gets a real test against Downey, whose offense ranks #92 in CIF-SS (7.9 yards per play).
Something changed for La Serna's ground game after its first 4 games. The Lancers averaged 8.3 yards per carry (808 yards on 97 rushes) over their first 4 games (4-0), #40 in CIF-SS during that period. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), La Serna has averaged 6.0 yards per carry (731 yards on 122 rushes), a 28% drop, #163 in CIF-SS during that stretch. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 5 opponents have been softer, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, a #220 run defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 5.2 yards per carry, #153 for the first 4. On the season, the Lancers rank #81 in CIF-SS in rushing. Downey's run defense sits in the middle of the pack, #127 in CIF-SS (5.1 yards per carry).
La Serna's offense has scored less as the season has worn on. La Serna averaged 52.0 points per game over its first 4 games (4-0), #8 in CIF-SS over that period. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), the Lancers have averaged 41.2 points per game, a 21% drop, #35 in CIF-SS over that timeframe. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 5 opponents have been softer, averaging 30.1 points per game, a #309 scoring defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 22.5 points per game, #187 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (30.1 points per game), La Serna scored 37% more than those defenses usually allow. By that measure, the early pace looks more like the outlier than the recent one. On the season, La Serna ranks #11 in CIF-SS in scoring. Downey's defense sits in the middle of the pack, #132 in CIF-SS (19.2 points per game).
TIDBITS (10 found)
• Club La Serna has won 4 straight, and a win would make it 5 in a row. The last time they won 5 or more in a row was 2025, a run of 7.
• Club La Serna is 107-2 all time when scoring 40+ points. La Serna's last loss when scoring 40+ points was November 30, 2019 against Pacifica (L, 41-42).
• Club La Serna has gone 10 straight games averaging 6.0+ yards per play (November 21, 2025 through October 23, 2026), going 8-2 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2023 (12 games).
• Club La Serna has gone 7 straight games averaging 8.0+ yards per attempt (September 4, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 6-1 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2021 (13 games).
• Player Grady Long has gone 7 straight games throwing a touchdown pass, the 2nd-longest such streak of his career. He also had a career-best streak of 18 straight games throwing a touchdown pass, during the 2025 season.
• Player Jordan Bonilla has 31 tackles over his last 3 games (10.3 a game, September 17, 2026 through October 9, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Grady Long has 930 passing yards over his last 3 games (310.0 a game, October 9, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Landon Armenta has 476 receiving yards over his last 3 games (158.7 a game, October 9, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Landon Armenta has gone 3 straight games catching a touchdown pass, the 2nd-longest such streak of his career. He also had a career-best streak of 5 straight games catching a touchdown pass, during the 2025 season.
• Player Kenai Summage has gone 2 straight games catching a touchdown pass, the longest such streak of his career.
MILESTONE WATCH
La Serna
Xavier Nunez needs 7 tackles for 75 (averaging 8.5 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 23 game; last updated Oct 29; roster and numbers checked Oct 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
2 CIF-SS titles · 5 CIF-SS runner-up finishes · 1 CIF State title · 8 CIF-SS Players of the Year · 4 league titles
YEAR
HONOR
2025
Del Rio LEAGUE CHAMPION (4-0 in league)
2024
CIF-SS Division 5 RUNNER-UP (lost to Palos Verdes 23-7)
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Division 5): KAIMANA TUFAGA
Del Rio LEAGUE CHAMPION (4-0 in league)
2023
CIF STATE CHAMPION (def. Grant 21-19)
CIF-SS Division 4 CHAMPION (def. Corona del Mar 49-29)
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Division 4): ADRIAN CASTRO
CIF-SS Offensive Player of the Year (Division 4): OWEN LONG
Del Rio LEAGUE CHAMPION (4-0 in league)
2022
Del Rio LEAGUE CHAMPION (4-0 in league)
2021
CIF-SS Offensive Player of the Year (Division 4): JAKE GEORGE
2019
CIF-SS Division 6 RUNNER-UP (lost to Pacifica/Oxnard 42-41)
2015
CIF-SS Southeasst RUNNER-UP (lost to La Mirada 45-20)
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Southeast): DANIEL CAMPOS
2013
CIF-SS Southeast CHAMPION (def. Norwalk 41-38)
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Southeast): DANIEL CAMPOS
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Southeast): LUIS CAMACHO
CIF-SS Offensive Player of the Year (Southeast): FRANKIE PALMER
2012
CIF-SS Southeast RUNNER-UP (lost to Downey 33-25)
2011
CIF-SS Southeast RUNNER-UP (lost to West Covina 84-21)
Section and state results and Players of the Year: CIF-SS Record Book. League finishes judged from league schedules on file (2022-2025 seasons); earlier league titles are not on file.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (defense 7/9, sacks allowed 7/9 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 85.4/100 (+81 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 75.8/100 (+53 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 68.9/100 (-31 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 90.6/100 (-100 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
OPPONENT TRACKER
(full explanation: Appendix, Note 2)
DATE
SITE
OPPONENT
THEIR RECORD
THEIR PPG
2026-10-30
at
DOWNEY
6-3
31.4
LAST YEAR
LS finished 2025 at 9-4. Made the playoffs (3 postseason game(s) on file; exact round/result not available). Notable win: 10-7 over ALISO NIGUEL (ALISO NIGUEL finished 67% that season). Toughest loss: 13-15 to RANCHO BERNARDO (2-point margin).
• LA SERNA has gained 400+ total yards in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 4 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• LA SERNA has won by 20+ in 4 straight games (10/2/26–10/23/26). It has not won by 20+ in 5 straight since 10/4/24–11/15/24 (2024). It has reached 5 straight 2 times in the last 4 years and has reached a high of 9 straight (2023) in that span.
• LA SERNA has scored 40+ in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/23/26). It has not scored 40+ in 4 straight since 8/21/26–9/10/26 (2026). It has reached 4 straight 3 times in the last 4 years and has reached a high of 10 straight (2023) in that span.
• LA SERNA has scored 30+ in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/23/26). It has not scored 30+ in 4 straight since 8/21/26–9/10/26 (2026). It has reached 4 straight 4 times in the last 4 years and has reached a high of 10 straight (2023) in that span.
LS's defense has averaged 0.6 takeaways per game over their last 5 games. Their 36-game average is 1.6 takeaways per game. (-61%)
LS's defense has averaged 4.6 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 34-game average is 7.4 YPA. (-37%)
LS's defense has averaged 197.0 pass yards per game over their last 7 games. Their 34-game average is 152.4 pass yards per game. (+29%)
LS's defense has averaged 323.1 total yards per game over their last 10 games. Their 34-game average is 265.3 total yards per game. (+22%)
LS's defense has averaged 13.3 points allowed per game over their last 3 games. Their 36-game average is 16.8 points allowed per game. (-20%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where LA SERNA sits among 399 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 77.5, Defense Grade 78.2.
POINTS / GAME: LA SERNA VS THE SECTION
LA SERNA ranks #13 of 399 section teams in points per game (52.0) -- a strength worth a look.
LA SERNA: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- 22.6 in 2022 to 23.5 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
