No. 11 JSerra rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to overcome host Bishop Amat 37-28 in a high school football matchup Friday night. The Lions (4-1) secured the victory through a series of critical fourth-down conversions in the second half, led by quarterback Hayes Cloutier, who accounted for two passing touchdowns and three rushing scores.

Trailing 28-21 at the start of the second half, JSerra’s first possession featured a pivotal fourth-and-three play on the Bishop Amat 27-yard line. Cloutier maneuvered across the field, evading defenders before completing the conversion that tied the game. Soon after, a deflected pass by Bishop Amat quarterback Domenico Doran was intercepted by sophomore defensive back Sean Veritch, setting up the Lions at the Lancers’ 16-yard line.

JSerra attempted a 33-yard field goal by kicker Evan Leddy on fourth-and-10, but after retaining possession due to a penalty against Bishop Amat, coach Hardy Nickerson opted to go for the first down. Cloutier responded with an 11-yard touchdown run, extending JSerra’s lead to 34-28, though the ensuing extra point was blocked.

Defensively, the Lions tightened up after surrendering 28 points in the first half. They prevented No. 15 Bishop Amat (4-1) from scoring in the second half and contained running back Justin Clinton, who had rushed for more than 130 yards in the game, including a 67-yard run and a 43-yard touchdown during the first half.

JSerra’s final scoring drive was a methodical 23-play march that lasted over 10 minutes, despite four team penalties. Key plays included a 22-yard run by Cloutier and a crucial fourth-and-two completion to Clark Cokely. The drive concluded with Leddy’s 44-yard field goal, which put the Lions ahead 37-28.

“[It] was a heavyweight fight,” said coach Nickerson of the opening half. “But my defensive staff just put it together in the second. We turned things up and made adjustments.” The victory marked a significant comeback effort for JSerra, highlighting their resilience and discipline in the latter stages of the game.