By Joe Snyder
Since beginning its program a few years ago and now in its second season in the CIF-Southern Section, Serra High’s girls’ flag football team remains in contention for a CIF-Southern Section playoff spot after shutting out rival Bishop Montgomery 40-0 on Sept. 24 at Serra.
The game started out as a defensive battle with a scoreless first quarter before the Lady Cavaliers let loose for two touchdowns in the second period to grab a 14-0 halftime lead. The scoring started when junior quarterback Deja Smith scored on a 10-yard keeper, followed by her conversion run for a 7-0 lead with 8:30 left in the second quarter. Less than a minute later, Serra made it 14-0 when senior running back Tyese Dodson-Freeman scored from six yards out, followed by a conversion pass from Smith to sophomore Karson Smith.
The Smith to Dodson-Freeman combination added a third-period touchdown on a 15-yard pass. In that play, the ball deflected off the hands of freshman Shainice McClain to Dodson-Freeman and the Cavaliers had a 20-0 lead through three quarters.
The fourth period saw Serra turn the game into a rout with 20 more points. Smith gave the Cavaliers a 26-0 lead on a 5-yard TD run that was followed by two more Serra touchdowns; a 20-yard run by McClain and a 15-yard pass from Smith to Dodson-Freeman.
“This was a good win,” Serra assistant coach Tokyo Singletary said. “We came off a 28-0 loss to St. Mary’s Academy where we were hurt with penalties. We have a new quarterback in junior Deja Smith. We’re young. We have a lot of freshmen.and sophomores. We’re beginning to jell but we have a lot of things to work on.”
Smith completed 20 of 29 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for two more.
At St. Joseph High in Lakewood, ranked ninth in California and eighth in the CIF-Southern Section by MaxPreps, on Sept. 15, Serra was shut out 38-0. Two days later at Serra, the Cavaliers topped St. Anthony High from Long Beach 13-6. Serra continues to play in the Camino Real League.
North is currently 5-1 and in second place, behind Torrance, in the Pioneer League.
On Sept. 18, the host Lady Saxons defeated West Torrance 27-19. A week earlier at North, the Saxons blanked South Torrance 27-0.
North hosts Torrance in a league showdown Friday at 4:15 p.m.
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GHS falls short to Dominguez
Gardena High’s football team is struggling with a 1-4 record after falling short to host Dominguez High 28-21 last Friday in Compton.
The Panthers, who slipped by the Dons last season, started things well with a 7-0 first quarter lead on a 9-yard by running back Kevin Martinez, followed by a point-after-touchdown from Gabriel Gutierrez.
A rushing TD from Dominguez tied the game at seven and the score stood that way through halftime.
Both offenses picked up in the second half that began when Kevin Martinez scored his second touchdown on a 9-yard run giving Gardena a 13-7 lead after the extra point was missed.
Dominguez, though, scored 14 unanswered points for a 21-13 lead late in the third quarter. The first TD of the period was scored on a 15-yard run from Darrell Frazier and the second was on a returned fumble recovery.
The Panthers came back to tie the game at 21 when Kevin Martinez threw a 51-yard scoring pass to Caleb Morris, followed by Martinez’s two-point conversion run.
The Dons, who finished non-league at 5-0, scored the decisive touchdown on an 11-yard run by Donnie Johnson with approximately four minutes remaining in the game.
Despite the loss, the seven-point margin was the closest of any squad against Dominguez, which earlier, routed Pasadena Marshall Fundamental 71-0, Hawthorne 58-6, Castaic 45-0, and crosstown rival Centennial 26-7. The Dons, however, will be in the tough Palomares League with the likes of Downey (which earlier rallied to defeat Inglewood), Downey Warren and Lakewood Mayfair.
Gardena begins the always rigorous Marine League at Banning High in Wilmington Friday at 7:30 p.m. After a 4-0 start, the injury-riddled Pilots fell into lean times losing lopsided games to Palos Verdes (52-0 on Sept. 19) and Redondo (35-6 last Friday).
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Carson scores victory over St. Pius X-St. Matt.
Carson High’s football team closed non-league play in a promising fashion by downing host St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 20-8 last Friday in Downey.
The Colts, who improved to 4-2, had a fine game by quarterback Chris Fields III who tallied 133 total yards and accounted for all three of their touchdowns.
After a scoreless first half, Fields got Carson on the scoreboard by completing a 6-yard TD pass to wide receiver Jordin Daniel.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias came back with a touchdown and two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead but Fields scored two TD’s on runs of 15 and 21 yards to give the Colts the win.
Carson has a bye week before opening the Marine League at Gardena High on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
In a cross-town rival thriller Friday at West Torrance High, South Torrance came out on top of the Warriors 34-31.
South was led by the passing combination of quarterback Chase Spahr and wide receiver Jacob Kerekes. Spahr completed 34 of 47 passes for 407 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those TD’s were thrown to Kerekes, who had 14 receptions for 251 yards.
The Spartans begin the Pioneer League at home against Peninsula High of Rolling Hills Estates Friday at 7 p.m. At the same time, West has its non-league finale at Cerritos High. West is the defending Ocean League champion but is faced with rebuilding, losing most of its starters. El Segundo (4-1) will be the Warriors’ biggest challenge. South is 3-2 and looks improved to compete in Pioneer play.
For most top teams in Southern California, it was Bye Week and that included Serra, North Torrance and Torrance.
The Cavaliers hope the two weeks of practice will prepare them for their brutal Mission League opener at powerful Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth Friday at 7 p.m. The Trailblazers are already ranked eighth in the United States and third in the CIF-Southern Section by MaxPreps. Serra has yet to beat Sierra Canyon in the two teams’ previous four meetings in league.
The Saxons and Tartars begin the Pioneer League, which should be very highly competitive this year. North visits an improved Santa Monica High team, which is 3-2 and is also coming off a bye after a 35-14 win over host Gardena on Sept. 18. Torrance, which completed non-league at 5-0, will begin Pioneer play in a critical fashion at Redondo, which is coming off two straight wins after an 0-3 start including a 35-6 win over host Banning High last Friday in Wilmington. On top of that, both teams will be looking to have some injured players and transfers back which could intensify the contest more. The Sea Hawks played the entire non-league without top receiver-defensive back Bo Ausmus (shoulder injury) and are looking to have a key transfer receiver and another player eligible. Last year, Redondo rolled over host Torrance 35-7 but the Sea Hawks should expect this game against the Tartars much tougher.
