Gardena Serra makes a statement with win over Notre Dame

At the start of the season, Gardena Serra faced questions about whether its program could measure up against some of the Southland’s top teams in the newly formed Mission League.

Friday night, the Cavaliers made it clear they were up to the challenge as they led by double digits for much of the time en route to a 28-23 victory over visiting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in a league opener.

“We heard the things said about us. Did it bother me, or my teammates? I’m not sure. Everyone has an opinion, I can respect that. Still, we had something to prove,” said Serra linebacker John Houston Jr., a senior and one of the nation’s premier prospects.

With Houston leading the way on defense, and fellow upperclassmen such as Stanley Norman and Rasheem Green doing their respective jobs, Serra (4-1, 1-0) made things difficult for the Knights (3-1, 0-1).

Khalil Tate delivered for the Cavaliers with a pair of rushing touchdowns, a 13-yarder and four-yarder. The junior quarterback also threw a strike for a 28-yard touchdown play to Deontay Burnett.

Teammate Malik Roberson scored on a 53-yard touchdown run.

“Anyone who thought that we were not up for the challenge in league, think again,” Norman said. “It’s about taking things to the next level, and tonight was the first step. We had enough of the talk. It was time to go out and show what we can do.”

Serra played in the Mission League the last few years, before the restructuring of things. West Hills Chaminade was the primary competition in that league. Times are changing, although it’s worth noting that the Eagles remain a league foe.

There are no easy games for Serra. Provided the Cavaliers do well against their league counterparts, the playoffs will loom large. And they play in the Southern Section Pac-5 Division, one of the nation’s toughest.

“We know what we signed up for. We’re ready, or as ready as we’re ever going to be,” Serra Coach Scott Altenberg said. “You can’t take a week off, that’s for sure. Win or lose the rest of the way, you must have a short-term memory and move on.”

In other league action Friday night, Chaminade defeated Los Angeles Loyola, 24-7. Encino Crespi defeated La Puente Bishop Amat, 32-21, in an overtime thriller. Mission Hills Alemany had a bye. Serra travels to Bishop Amat next week.

sports@latimes.com