Sermons Helps Inspire Bishop Amat Football Team : Preps: Junior running back has rushed for 846 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for the undefeated and top-ranked Lancers.

Rodney Sermons was in the eighth grade the day he played a variation of “20 Questions” with his youth league football coach.

Sermons, a standout running back, was curious about high school football programs in the San Gabriel Valley. Specifically, which program had a tradition of outstanding running backs.

“My coach told me Bishop Amat had some great runners,” Sermons recalled. “He said the school was a running-back factory.

“I had heard of Eric Bieniemy, and when I heard that he went there, it gave me even more incentive. The decision about where I wanted to go to high school became pretty easy.”

Sermons, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior from Diamond Bar, has made things look easy this season while helping Bishop Amat to a 9-0 record and No. 1 ranking in the Southern Section.

Sermons has rushed for 846 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for the Lancers, who are coming off a 28-14 victory over previously unbeaten and top-ranked Loyola. Bishop Amat can clinch the Del Rey League championship Friday with a victory over Alemany at Bishop Amat.

Sermons, who started at fullback as a sophomore, appears to have many of the same abilities of his predecessors in the Lancer backfield, including Pernell Taylor, Randy Tanner, Bieniemy, Mazio Royster and Scott Fields.

Like Tanner, who went on to play wide receiver at USC, Sermons is also an excellent pass-catcher. He has eight receptions for 112 yards and three touchdowns.

“He has great hands,” Bishop Amat Coach Mark Paredes said. “He could probably play wideout when he goes to college.”

Sermons played tailback for the freshman team but was switched to fullback last season and spent most of the season clearing the way for Fields.

“When they said they were going to put me at fullback, I didn’t think I was big enough,” Sermons said. “But I didn’t even think I was going to see the field as a sophomore, so I was happy to be out there getting playing time.”

This season, Sermons has been Bishop Amat’s biggest offensive threat. He began the season by helping the Lancers to victories over Carson, Damien, Long Beach Poly, Arroyo Grande, Jordan, Crespi and St. Paul.

A groin injury kept Sermons sidelined against St. John Bosco, but Jason Harris stepped up and rushed for 120 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Sermons was still nursing the injury entering the showdown against Loyola, but it was hardly evident in his performance before a crowd of about 10,000 at Glendale High.

Bishop Amat was trailing, 7-0, in the second quarter when Sermons took a handoff on a draw play at the Lancer 41. He broke through the line and into the secondary, where a free safety stood between him and the goal line.

“I figured if I could put a move on him, I would be scot-free,” Sermons said.

Sermons’ 59-yard touchdown run sent the Lancers into halftime tied. His one-yard touchdown run with 8:09 left in the third quarter put Bishop Amat ahead and started a string of 21 unanswered points.

Sermons finished with 82 yards in 10 carries and one reception for four yards.

‘We’re getting better and better every week,” Sermons said. “We’re just hoping to finish the regular season strong and get ready for the playoffs.”

For all of its success through the years, Bishop Amat is still in search of its first Southern Section championship since 1971. With Sermons, senior quarterback Mike Smith, sophomore receiver and defensive back Daylon McCutcheon and an array of other talented players, the Lancers appear to have enough to challenge for the championship.

Sermons believes the Lancers are overdue. And he is ready to shoulder the responsibility of helping them win it all.

“I feel like I’m ready to go,” he said. “Here it is after Week 9, and I wish I could go nine more.”