By Joe Snyder
This year’s edition of the Pioneer League appears to be very competitive between the four Torrance schools but North Torrance appeared to dominate Torrance throughout the past few seasons.
In a big league rivalry last Friday at South Torrance High, the Saxons continued their dominance by rolling over the Spartans 53-0.
North really poured it on a South team that had a majority of its starters out to a rash of flu cases and even one reported with COVID-19. The early onslaught began when a Spartan ball carrier accidentally stepped out of bounds at the South one-yard line on the opening kickoff. The Saxons made their first of two safeties in the first quarter when Donovan Watson tackled another South ball carrier in his own end zone.
North had yet another safety along with five interceptions, all in the first period. Also, Jaylen Smith recorded two fumble recoveries in just a one-minute span. There was also an interception that included a pick-six touchdown by Watson in the second period for North’s final touchdown. The Saxons already cashed in on all those Spartan miscues to build a 46-0 bulge after the first quarter.
The Saxons, though, used their offense, as well, behind fourth-year starting senior quarterback Trevor Lagarde. He completed eight of 11 passes for 147 yards and four touchdowns. His TD passes went to Honbyuol Lozano for 10 yards, Jonathan Jurado for six, Khyren Lurde for 19 and Carl Bono for 20.
North, which is 6-1 overall and 2-0 in league after a season opening loss at Santa Barbara on Aug. 19, will host Torrance for a 7 p.m. Pioneer rivalry Friday. South (3-4, 0-2), which had just 19 of its 41-player roster available for last Friday’s contest against the Saxons, hopes to get healthy as it visits Lawndale at Hawthorne High Friday at 7 p.m. The Tartars evened their league record to 1-1 after a 35-21 win at El Segundo last Friday. The Cardinals proved they are still the supreme of Pioneer football after blanking West Torrance 26-0 last Friday at Hawthorne High.
