By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s football team began its season not even playing at Maya Angelou High in South Los Angeles due to several of the Phoenix players still being ineligible and the Panthers received a forfeit win.
Gardena was anxious to get off a game on its home field against University Pathways Public Service Academy, a small magnet high school in South L.A., and came away with a 62-0 rout.
The Panthers wasted little time on the Utes blasting their way to a 36-0 first quarter lead. Gardena upped its lead to 43-0 by halftime and 56-0 after three quarters, then added one touchdown in the final period.
Sophomore quarterback Isaiah Kim, who transferred from North High, began his stint with the Panther varsity by passing for three touchdowns. Running backs Torey Pierce and Pharrell Davis, both juniors, had big games. Pierce rushed for two TDs and Davis had three touchdowns. Defensive back Dallas Hernandez had two interceptions.
Gardena travels to Centennial High in Compton for a 6 p.m. non-league game today. The Panthers hope for better things against the Apaches. Last season, Gardena lost six players, five of those for the remainder of the 2021 season, to a rash of injuries in its 20-18 double overtime loss. It proved to be the turning point for the Panthers, who started last year at 2-0 before finishing at 3-6.
Bishop Montgomery High’s football team, which went 2-8 last season including 0-5 in the Camino Real League, started this season at 2-0 with a 26-12 home win over Bolsa Grande from Garden Grove last Friday.
Quarterback Diego Rodriguez passed for one touchdown and ran for another. Cameron Brewer set a Knight record by returning an interception 100 yards for a TD. The previous was 94 by Langston Metoyer in 2019.
Bishop Montgomery hosts View Park Prep from L.A.-Baldwin Hills Friday at 7 p.m.
West Torrance was defeated by host Culver City 35-13 last Friday. The Warriors (0-1) were led by quarterback Jackson Sharman who completed 20 of 35 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
The Centaurs had a strong game by junior quarterback Sammy Silvia who completed 17 of 26 passes for 280 yards and four TD’s.
West visits an improved Santa Monica team Friday at 7 p.m. at Santa Monica City College. The Vikings are 1-1 after defeating El Segundo 33-14 last Friday at SMCC. Santa Monica, which finished last in the Bay League and went 1-8 overall in 2021, is under first-year head coach Carter Paysinger, who was a long-time successful head mentor at Beverly Hills High.
Torrance evened its record to 1-1 by shutting out Hawthorne 47-0 last Friday at Zamperini Field.
The Tartars visit Redondo Friday at 7 p.m. The Sea Hawks, who went 2-8 and lost to host Torrance 13-3 last year, are under first year head coach Keith Ellison, a former Redondo High, El Camino College, Oregon State University and National Football League player. His Redondo squad started off well by blank- ing host Long Beach Wilson 33-0 last Friday.
Narbonne might be back to its glory days. The Gauchos improved to 2-0 with a 26-13 win over host Paramount High last Friday.
Narbonne will be tested as it visits South Torrance High, which won its season opener by rolling over host Schurr High 51- 15 last Thursday in Montebello.
El Camino College begins its season at home against Santa Monica City College Saturday at 6 p.m.
