By BOB ETTINGER

sports@vindy.com

CAMPBELL

Struthers defensive end Brandan Serrano was lurking. He exploded out of the shadows as the Wildcats’ defense dominated in a 41-0 victory over Campbell to claim the Steel Helmet trophy in what was likely the last meeting between the rivals at John Knapick Field on Friday night.

Serrano recorded a pair of sacks, both resulting in safeties, while running amok in the Red Devils’ backfield all night.

“I was just doing what the coaches taught me to do,” Serrano said. “Anything’s possible. I didn’t really dream it, but anything is possible. [The rest of the defensive front] forced him right into me. I owe them a big thanks. They forced him right into me and I made the play. I ran to the ball like Coach [Curt Kuntz] told us to do all week.”

The Wildcats (5-2) created all sorts of problems for the Campbell offense and Serrano was the point man as the they recorded three safeties in taking a 6-0 lead with 9:25 to play in the first half.

“[Serrano] is playing the way we expected him to from Day 1,” Kuntz said. “He’s a very valuable force at defensive end. This is the first game he was dominant the way we expected him to be every week.”

Struthers held the Red Devils (0-7) to minus-1 total yards.

“Since the Canfield game, the defense has been getting better and better and better every week,” Kuntz said. “It’s allowed us to be more multiple every week and that’s helped us to run to the ball. We’ve been playing well at the linebackers and safeties. They’re probably as good of tacklers as we have.”

Campbell carried 31 times for minus-35 yards and Christian Stores completed four passes for 34 yards.

“We lost our quarterback [Joey Michaels] on the first series,” Campbell coach Butch Jennings said. “We had a young quarterback [Christian Stores] go in and it’s tough to make the checks and reads. We had just solidified the quarterback spot a couple weeks back. Regardless, the boys played hard. They played for each other and they played for the city of Campbell. For that, I’m very grateful to be the coach at Campbell High School.”

Aiden Hall returned a short kick 49 yards for a touchdown to put Struthers ahead, 13-0, with 9:16 to play in the first half.

“I saw [the crease] on previous returns when I didn’t get the ball,” Hall said. “The middle opened up. I saw it and ran. I wasn’t expecting it to be like that because the kick was bad. I’m just happy it opened up the way it did.”

Joe Macciomei got the Wildcats’ offense going with a 69-yard TD run for a 20-0 lead with 5:37 to play in the half. Aiden Hall then scored on a 38-yard pass from J.D. Hall to make it 27-0 at the half.

J.D. Hall scored on a 31-yard run in the third period and Dylan Donnadio scored on a 15-yard run in the fourth.