Live Updates: Tennessee 5-star QB commit Nico Iamaleava faces Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra
Long Beach (Calif.) Warren five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava continues his senior season on Friday night against Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra. The Tennessee commit has had a strong start to his 2022 campaign by leading the Bears to a 2-0 record.
On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power is on site in Gardena and will be providing live updates from Iamaleava’s game, which is expected to kick off around 7:00 p.m. PT.
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Nico Iamaleava Live Updates
9:43 p.m.: Serra takes a knee to run out the clock.
9:40 p.m.: Iamaleava scrambles to his left and throws downfield. He is picked on the sideline by Rodrick Pleasant. That’s his second of the night.
9:39 p.m.: Serra false starts on fourth-and-three. The punt goes down to the Warren nine-yard line. Another opportunity for Iamaleava to lead a drive down 16-13 with three minutes remaining.
9:33 p.m.: Iamaleava scrambles for a first down, but the play is called back for a chop block. A screen is blown up, Iamaleava scrambles for a short gain, and then a throw across the middle goes through the receiver’s hands. Warren punts with 4:21 remaining.
9:26 p.m.: Serra mounts a long drive down to the 10-yard line, but is picked off on third down. Iamaleava will have a chance to lead a go ahead drive with 5:37 remaining.
9:14 p.m.: Serra keeps the ball on the ground and chews a lot of clock in the third quarter. Warren picks off a pass with five seconds left in the third quarter. Then, an Iamaleava throw goes off his receiver’s chest and is picked off by On300 CB Rodrick Pleasant.
8:58 p.m.: Serra punts down to the Warren four-yard line. Iamaleava throws it away as he’s being brought down in the end zone. It’s ruled a safety. Serra up 16-13.
8:45 p.m.: Warren is stopped on their first drive with four straight runs.
8:40 p.m.: The rain has increased coming out of halftime. It’s coming down pretty good right now
8:23 p.m.: Nico comes back into the game after being tended to on the sidelines for a few plays. Warren gets down to the Serra five-yard line, but is out of timeouts as time expires in the first half.
8:08 p.m.: Nico’s younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, is Warren’s backup and comes into the game.
8:06 p.m.: Serra punts after a quick 3 and out. Iamaleava is late hit while sliding and is down. He walks off under his own power.
8:01 p.m.: After a drop on a quick pass, Iamaleava slides to avoid pressure and hits an open receiver who turns it up the sideline for a long gain down to the 10-yard-line. Warren runs in a touchdown, but it’s called back for a block in the back. Iamaleava misfires on a screen and is a bit long on a vertical route into the end zone. Warren goes for it on fourth-and-13. Iamaleava is flushed to his left and throws across his body, but Rodrick Pleasant is there for the PBU.
7:54 p.m.: 2024 On300 CB Dakoda Fields is at the training table with ice around his ankle.
7:50 p.m.: Warren goes three-and-out after a run and two screens yield two yards.
7:43 p.m.: Rodrick Pleasant shows off his 10.1 speed, running the kick back. Serra goes up 14-13.
7:41 p.m.: Warren returns the kick to the 28-yard-line. Iamaleava puts some RPM’s on a pass over the middle that goes inside the five. Warren scores on a short run a few plays later. PAT puts them up 13-7 with 27 seconds left in the 1st quarter.
7:34 p.m.: Serra goes three-and-out, but Warren loses fumbles on the punt return to give the ball back. Serra scores on a vertical route down the left sideline. PAT is good to go up 7-6. The rain has picked up a bit in the meantime.
7:24 p.m.: The Warren defense picks off a Serra tunnel screen and runs it in for the first score of the game. Bad snap on the PAT. 6-0 Warren with 6:06 left in the first quarter.
7:20 p.m.: Warren drops a screen on second down after a run. Iamaleava tests Rodrick Pleasant on third-and-13, but there’s good coverage. Warren opts to go for it on fourth down, but Iamaleava’s pass is incomplete.
7:16 p.m.: Warren and Iamaleava get the ball for their first drive on their 30-yard line after blocking a Serra field goal attempt. Iamaleava hits a pretty deep ball on third-and-four for a big gain down to the Serra 23-yard-line.
6:46 p.m.: Just watching warmups, the ball comes out of Nico Iamaleava’s hand differently than many of the top 2023 quarterbacks I’ve seen in the past few months. Not a huge revelation, as we saw Iamaleava for three days at OT7, but the arm talent is certainly there.
6:45 p.m.: We’re less than 15 minutes from kickoff. There’s rain on the radar from Hurricane Kay, but hopefully the weather holds off. There’s a slight drizzle currently. 2024 On300 Jason Mitchell is not dressed out for Serra.
6:43 p.m.: Here in Gardena, California to watch five-star Tennessee quarterback commit Nico Iamaleava and his Downey (Calif.) Warren team take on Serra High which features On300 cornerback Rodrick Pleasant and 2024 On300 prospects ATH Jason Mitchell and cornerback Dakoda Fields. Serra’s back seven is loaded with talent and should provide a stiff test for Iamaleava and Warren.