By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s football team began its season with a win over host Maya Angelou of South Los Angeles but it not quite the way it would have liked.
Maya Angelou failed to suit up enough players, due to several being ineligible because of unfinished paperwork, along with its uniforms failing to be delivered. The Phoenix opted to forfeit to the Panthers and canceled the contest.
Gardena’s opener ended up moved up to this Friday (officially Week 1 since last Friday was Week 0) at home against University Pathways from West L.A. Game time is 7 p.m.
S.B. routs North
North Torrance High’s defense was unable to contain host Santa Barbara High in a 47-19 loss last Friday.
The Dons surged out to a 31-13 halftime lead and the Saxons were unable to mount much of a rally. Santa Barbara outscored North 16-6 in the second half to continue to pull away.
Quarterback Trevor Lagarde completed 16 of 27 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Dylan Williams added a TD run.
North hopes to turn things around when it hosts St. Genevieve High from Panorama City Friday at 7 p.m.
Narbonne rallies past Torrance: Narbonne High’s football team started out trailing 7-0 but came back with two key touchdown passes from quarterback Ryan Corley to Tristan Thomas to pull off a 14-7 victory last Friday night at Narbonne.
The Tartars started off well with a 2-yard TD run by Ian Dilthey but the passing combination of Corley and Thomas helped the Gauchos win their season opener after going 0-9 in regular season and 2-10 overall last season.
In fall 2021, Narbonne lost all nine regular season games, including 12-6 to Gardena that gave the Panthers their first Marine League on-field win in six years on Oct. 15 at Narbonne, but was invited to the CIF-L.A. City Section Division III playoffs where it won two games but lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Woodland Hills Taft.
The Gauchos visit Paramount Friday at 7:30 p.m. Torrance comes home to face Hawthorne Friday at 7 p.m. The Cougars are coming off a 42-0 home win over southeast L.A. Verbum Dei last Friday.
Knights open with win: After a 2-8 season last year, Bishop Montgomery High’s football team started off well with a 34-13 home win over Santee High from Downtown L.A. last Friday.
Quarterback Diego Rodriguez had a fine game completing 13 of 23 passes and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 56 yards and one TD. Wide receiver Dominic Merchondo caught six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Knights were led by Braedon Biggerstaff with 12 tackles and Dominic Seellen with eight tackles.
Bishop Montgomery hosts Bolsa Grande High from Garden Grove in non-league play Friday at 7 p.m.
