Photo by Barry Stephenson.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Jacob Serena (14) carries the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Hewitt-Trussville High School on Sept. 13 at Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Jacob Serena can break down the play with the best of them.
The formation was trips right, he explained, with three wide receivers on one side of the line of scrimmage. The play call was a sprint out to the right, with the idea that one of those three receivers would be open for the quarterback to hit.
Except, the play didn’t work according to plan. Thankfully, Serena, a senior receiver for the Hewitt-Trussville High School football team who was lined up on the left side of the formation, found his way to an open spot.
He put his arm in the air to catch the attention of quarterback Noah Dobbins, who threw across his body and delivered a perfect ball in the end zone. A sliding Serena hauled in the pass for the go-ahead touchdown, lifting the Huskies to an 18-14 win over Vestavia Hills back on Sept. 6.
“Sometimes, it doesn’t come down to play calls,” Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd said following that game. “Some dudes have got to make plays, and we had some guys step up and make plays.”
That play is a prime example of what Serena has provided to the Huskies offense in the 2024 season. As Hewitt-Trussville prepares for a hopeful deep playoff run this fall, Serena has been a big part of it. He’s made big catches in key moments and has been a productive member of an offense that did not boast much experience entering the season.
Serena was one of only a few players who entered 2024 with a robust amount of varsity experience, along with fellow receiver Dylan Cope and lineman Mason Holloway.
Floyd called Serena a “good leader for us,” while noting that he is not afraid to be one of the team’s primary vocal leaders.
He backs it up on the field, too.
“Our quarterbacks know he can make big plays in big games,” Floyd said. “He’s proven himself over the years. He’s a three-year starter, and we don’t have a lot of those at this level.”
Serena carries that personality beyond the football field as well. Floyd joked that Serena has a bevy of nicknames, from “Mr. Varsity” to “Soccer Ball” and many others.
He also eschews the traditional college football loyalties of the area, pledging his allegiance not to Alabama or Auburn, but to Penn State.
Over the summer, Serena rekindled his love for building Lego sets. He recently completed a set featuring over 1,000 pieces, one he proudly displays in his house.
He will look to finish his career strong this month, perhaps even with some hardware to place alongside the Lego set. The Huskies will begin their playoff run Nov. 8.
