By Joe Snyder
For nearly two decades, Gardena High’s football teams struggled in the prestigious Marine League rarely winning a game.
For the first time since 2004, the Panthers defeated San Pedro 12-7 in both teams’ Marine opener last Friday at Gardena. Over the past several seasons, the Pirates continuously overwhelmed the Panthers that included 69-0 in 2021 and 42-6 last season. San Pedro is the defending league champion that was the top seed in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Open Division playoffs before being upset at home by Eagle
Rock, which entered the contest eighth seed but had a 9-1 regular season record, 38-31 in overtime. Lake Balboa Birmingham won the City Open Division title over Marine League foe Wilmington Banning, which finished second behind the Pirates.
Gardena, which improved to 7-0 overall, was sparked by Keyshawn Hood who played well both offensively and defensively. On offense, Hood scored what would be the decisive touchdown on a 38-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. On defense, Hood had a fumble recovery and interception.
The game was scoreless through the first half but the Panthers got on the scoreboard for a 6-0 lead on a 35-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Isaiah Kim to senior wide receiver Johann Wallace.
Hood’s scoring run gave Gardena a 12-0 lead.
San Pedro cut the Panthers’ lead to five points on a 15-yard fee flicker pass from quarterback Marcus Jeronymo to receiver Santiago Rivera with 8:27 left in the game.
The Pirates (3-3 overall and 0-1 in league) threatened to lead late but Jeronymo’s pass to wide receiver Elias Redlen fell incomplete as Gardena players celebrated.
It was the Panthers’ first Marine win since their 12-6 win over host Narbonne two years ago. In 2019, Gardena picked up a forfeit win over the Gauchos (routed Gardena 58-6 on the field), who had to forfeit nine wins due to infractions with then head coach Manuel Douglas and several ineligible players, but its previous league victory was in 2015 over Washington, which is now in the Coliseum
League. Four years ago, the Panthers won the CIF-L.A. City Section Division III and Southern California Division VIIA championships. They lost to host San Francisco Lincoln in the CIF-State Division VIIA championship bowl.
Gardena has a bye week before visiting Carson at a site to be determined, due to the Colt Stadium renovations going on, on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a big test against Carson, which appears to be the Marine League favorite at this time.
Serra begins ML with Rout of Chaminade
Serra High’s football team began the highly competitive Mission League with by downing West Hills Chaminade 34-7 last Friday at Serra.
The Cavaliers had an outstanding performance by junior quarterback Jimmy Butler who completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Cincere Rhaney continued his outstanding season by rushing for 191 yards and two TDs.
Serra, which improved to 4-2 overall, led 20-7 at halftime then continued to dominate the Eagles in the second half. The Cavaliers built their lead to 27-7 when back-up quarterback Nicholas Johnson tossed a 49-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Zacharyus Williams.
Butler’s touchdown passes were off 27 yards to Andre Nickerson and 19 to Williams. Rhaney had an 18-yard TD run that gave the Cavaliers a two-touchdown lead with 1:46 left in the first half and added another on a 1-yard run for Serra’s final score in the fourth quarter.
Spending time at quarterback, Johnson had big scrambles of 12 and 25 yards and his touchdown pass to Williams, who had two TD receptions.
It was the Cavaliers’ fifth consecutive win over Chaminade.
Serra will host Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in their second straight league game in the Cavaliers’ annual homecoming game Friday at 7 p.m.
Lady Cavs roll over Heart, fall to St. Joe
Serra High’s girls’ flag football team began last week by shutting out Sacred Heart of Jesus Los 28-0 on Sept. 25 at Sacred Heart in Los Angeles.
Two days later at Serra, the Lady Cavaliers found Lakewood St. Joseph High too much to handle in a 37-7 loss. Both were Camino Real League games in which the Cavaliers are 3-1. Serra is 3-4 overall.
Against Sacred Heart, Serra High quarterback Rhandi Flores had a fine game, throwing for three touchdown passes and running for another. Two of those TD passes were to Sariah Havard.
According to head coach Monique Adams, Flores had several explosive runs.
Against St. Joseph, which is the sister school of national football powerhouse Bellflower St. John Bosco, the Cavaliers could not contain a squad that had just nine players on the roster but very good depth for the quantity.
The Jesters used the passing of quarterback Lexi Loya, good running game and a stingy defense to bring down Serra.
Loya started out passing touchdown passes to receivers Maleah Minjarez (39 yards) and Aubree Mellana (three yards) for a 12-0 lead and St. Joseph brought it up to 18-0 shortly before halftime on a 20-yard TD run by Elizabeth Roel.
The Jesters continued to dominate the Cavaliers in the second half behind scores by Mellana (28-yard run), Julia Scales (25-yard interception return) and Minjarez (50-yard pass from Loya). Loya finished with three touchdown passes.
Serra’s only TD came on a short 2-yard run by Havard. The Cavaliers added the point after touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Flores to receiver Trinity Green.
St. Joseph is 4-0 in CRL play.
After visiting Cantwell-Sacred Heart in Montebello last Monday and St. Bernard in Playa del Rey on Wednesday, Serra hosts St. Anthony from Long Beach next Monday at 6:30 p.m. and hosts Sacred Heart of Jesus next Wednes- day at the same time. All are league games.
North begins Pioneer with win over El Seg.
North Torrance High’s football team is mostly young but it is hanging in there, so far this season.
The Saxons began the Pioneer League by pulling away from host El Segundo 35-7 last Friday in the Eagles’ homecoming game.
North, which is 3-3 overall, continued to have its out- standing display of the freshman brother quarterback-wide receiver combination of Boogie and Kingston Anetema.
The two combined for 189 yards and one touchdown, a 60-yarder.
The two teams were tied at seven in the second quarter after Eagle quarterback Anthony Temesvary threw a 14-yard TD pass to Michael Wilson but, from there, it was all Saxons.
Later in the second period, North took the lead for good on a 13-yard scoring pass from Boogie Anetema to Felix Avillar. He had another touch- down pass to Avillar from 22 yards out in the third quarter. Avillar caught six passes for 57 yards and two TDs.
North led 28-7 late in the third period on Ben Fonaloa’s 3-yard scoring run and the Boogie to Kingston combination of 60 yards finished off the scoring for the Saxons in the fourth quarter.
Boogie Anetema completed 23 of 37 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, the Saxons recorded three sacks on Temesvary, two by J.D. Noa and one by Elijah Tausseia.
North comes home to face cross town rival South Torrance Friday at 7 p.m. Last Friday, the Spartans were nipped by host West Torrance 24-23, giving the Warriors their first win of the season in their Pioneer opener.
West, 1-5 overall, will host powerful Lawndale Friday at 7 p.m.
Torrance lost to the host Cardinals 29-7 in their Pioneer opener last Friday.
The Tartars (3-3 overall) scored their only touchdown in the second quarter by junior Jake Silverman on a 1-yard run as they only trailed 13-7 before Lawndale pulled away.
Torrance hosts El Segundo Friday at 7 p.m.
Bishop Montgomery lost its first Camino Real League game of the season to host Cantwell-Sacred Heart 35-12 last Friday in Montebello.
The Knights visit Mary Star at Daniels Field in San Pedro Friday at 7 p.m.
Narbonne lost its Marine League opener to host Carson 27-7 last Thursday at L.A. Harbor College.
The Gauchos visit Banning High in Wilmington tonight at 7:30.
El Camino College’s football team won its Western States Conference opener over host Bakersfield College 31-24 last Saturday.
The Warriors have a bye week before host College of the Canyons from Valencia next Thursday at 6 p.m. It is El Camino’s homecoming game.
