By Joe Snyder
El Camino College’s football team is off to a good start after hanging on to top College of the Canyons from Valencia 17-13 in a non-conference game last Saturday at Murdock Stadium.
Both defenses dominated most of the contest as both squads were tied at 3-3 at halftime.
The Warriors took the lead for good at 10-3 when quarterback Andrew Maushardt completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Baker with five minutes left in the third quarter. On the next ECC drive, running back Azeon Nelson scored on a 7-yard run as the Warriors stretched their lead to 17-3 with 3:36 remaining in the third period.
In the fourth quarter, the Cougars took advantage of strong blocking of their big line and nearly pulled the game out. They cut El Camino’s lead to 17-10 with 15 seconds into the period on a spectacular 38-yard TD pass from quarterback Zazee Riley IV to wide receiver Jamar Adams. ECC, then, appeared to be headed for another score but fumbled away the ball. Canyons drove to the El Camino 6-yard line where kicker Justin Assadi kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Cougars were within four points with 8:05 to go in the game.
Both teams threatened. The Warriors drove to the Canyons 20-yard line but fumbled away the ball. That was where the Cougars drove to the ECC 28 before defensive back Brett James (West Torrance) intercepted the Riley pass ending the threat. El Camino ran a few plays before downing the ball and holding on for its second win in as many games.
Maushardt completed 12 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. Running back Jaden Moore rushed for 154 yards on 19 carries.
Defensively, Mylan Walker and Adonte Medley had eight tackles apiece.
At ECC on Aug. 30, the Warriors humiliated Santa Barbara City College 68-6.
El Camino built a 47-0 halftime lead and continued to roll from there.
Maushardt completed 16 of 23 passes for 232 yards and two TDs. Evan Tomich was 8-for-11 with 179 yards and one touchdown.
Moore and Ryan Young each rushed for two TDs. Baker caught three passes for 73 yards and one touchdown.
The Warriors will be faced with a stiff test as they travel to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut for a 6 p.m. non-conference game next Saturday. It will be a rematch of last season’s Southern California Regional semifinal where the Mounties overcame an early 17-7 deficit to eliminate El Camino 48-24. ECC begins the National Southern Conference at home against Chaffey College from Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 20 at the same time.
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Serra suffers big loss to Los Alamitos
After two impressive shutout wins over defending CIF-Southern Section Division V and CIF-State Division IIAA champion Palos Verdes and Los Angeles Hamilton, Serra High’s football team played its first game at its temporary home, L.A. Southwest College, against Los Alamitos High, a team it routed 42-7 on the road last year.
Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, their shutout string quickly ended, as well as their two-game winning streak in a 41-21 loss to the Griffins.
Los Alamitos, which improved to 3-0, got things going fast as it scored on its first drive of 65 yards on 10 plays for a 6-0 lead. Serra, however, came back for a 7-6 lead on a 12-yard quarterback keeper from Nicolas Johnson.
From there, the Griffins took the lead for good. A 13-yard scoring pass from quarterback Colin Crenson to Becham Hofland gave Los Alamitos a 14-7 lead before a field goal adding the Griffins’ advantage to 17-7. Shortly, Serra was deep in its own territory as running back Devohn Moutra, Jr. was tackled in his own end zone for a safety.
Johnson rushed for his second touchdown of the game from 11 yards out cutting Los Alamitos’ lead to 19-14.
From there, the Griffins went on to score 22 unanswered points. Touchdowns by Jackson Renger (45-yard fumble recovery) and Creson (2-yard run) gave Los Alamitos a 41-14 lead.
Moutra scored Serra’s last TD on a 10-yard run for the final score.
Things continue to stay tough for the Cavaliers as they host Orange Lutheran from the prestigious Trinity League Friday at 7 p.m. at Southwest College.
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Prep Football Roundup
Shorthanded North falls short to Centennial
North Torrance High’s football team was faced at home with its second out-of-state opponent in Centennial High from Las Vegas, Nev.
Also, the Saxons were without starting quarterback Ethan Edwards due to an injury as he was replaced by sophomore Ethan Slitia.
After wins over Summit Academy of Utah and a 52-0 blowout of host Westchester on Aug. 29, North had offensive woes scoring just one offensive touchdown on a run by Jayden Andrade. Andrade rushed for 64 yards on 20 carries. The result was a 14-12 loss to Centennial.
Two field goals from sophomore kicker Kamala Hirahara were the Saxons’ other six points but North held a 12-6 halftime lead.
Centennial scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter to hand the Saxons their first loss against two wins.
North visits cross town rival West Torrance in a non-league contest Friday at 7 p.m.
Gardena fell to 1-2 after falling to King-Drew Medical Magnet High 30-6 Friday at Gardena.
Tight end Caleb Morris scored the only Panther touchdown on a screen pass from quarterback Cecilio James.
Gardena visits Mervyn Dymally High in South Los Angeles for a non-league game Friday at 7 p.m.
Carson lost an intersectional non-league contest to host Palos Verdes 30-6 last Friday afternoon.
The Colts scored their only TD on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Chris Fields III to Nathan Williams.
Fields completed 17 of 29 passes for 151 yards and Williams had seven receptions for 49 yards.
Carson hosts Huntington Park High Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Torrance improved to 3-0 with a 45-7 rout of St. Anthony High from Long Beach last Friday at Louis Zamperini Field.
The Tartars remain at home against Cypress High Friday at 7 p.m.
West Torrance won its first game of the season and evened its record to 1-1 after a 20-14 win over host Peninsula High last Friday afternoon in Rolling Hills Estates.
South Torrance lost its home game to San Marino High 35-27 last Friday.
The Spartans are at El Segundo High Friday at 7 p.m.
