PALMDALE. Calif. On September 10, Serrano played an away game against the Highland High School Bulldogs, following their devastating defeat last week at the hands of Alta Loma. The Diamondbacks entered the contest at 2-1, and after a hard-fought game, advanced to 3-1 by defeating the Bulldogs 21-12 on the heels of Payton Cornell’s two rushing touchdowns.

Serrano led early in the game by ending the first quarter up 7-0, but the Bulldogs answered back late in the second with a passing touchdown that made the game 7-6. After a failed two-point conversion, the game went into halftime with the same score.

In the third quarter, Serrano was able to further their lead after a nine-yard run put them ahead 13-6. The extra point was no good.

Early in the fourth, the Bulldogs answered back with a two-yard touchdown run that brought the score to 13-12. The following two-point conversion was unsuccessful.

After the kickoff, Serrano began the next drive from their own 21-yard line and kept it going for eight minutes, only for it to end in a punt with three minutes left in the game.

Highland took over the ball at their own 20, and the ball was quickly intercepted by Serrano. Not long after, Serrano made it to the endzone with a run that made the score 19-12. After a successful two-point conversion, the score was 21-12.

After the game, Head Coach Casey Maholchic said, “I was proud of how the kids battled through the game.”

Serrano’s Cornell went 3/12 passing and had 40 yards over the air. On the rushing side, Cornell had 12 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Ron Elmidge had 17 carries for 47 yards.

On defense, number 38 Trevor Sturdevant had five tackles and one interception; and number 22, Jacob Porter had four tackles and two interceptions.

Serrano is scheduled for a bye this week and will return to action at home on September 22 against Victor Valley High School.