Simmons puts on show but GHS falls to Birmingham

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All-purpose player Tyree Simmons did all he could to help Gardena High’s football team attempt to upset No. 5 seed and host Birmingham in the first round of the CIF-Los Angeles City Division I playoffs Friday in Lake Balboa.

Simmons did it all for the Panthers with 250 all purpose yards, including rushing for 147 yards and three touchdowns and had one interception on defense.

He got Gardena started well with an early 9-0 lead but the more balanced Patriots were able to wear down the Panthers and pull off a 34-22 win.

All-purpose player Tyree Simmons did all he could to help Gardena High’s football team attempt to upset No. 5 seed and host Birmingham in the first round of the CIF-Los Angeles City Division I playoffs Friday in Lake Balboa.

Simmons did it all for the Panthers with 250 all purpose yards, including rushing for 147 yards and three touchdowns and had one interception on defense.

He got Gardena started well with an early 9-0 lead but the more balanced Patriots were able to wear down the Panthers and pull off a 34-22 win.

Gardena, which finished its season at 7-4 after finishing fourth in the rugged Marine League at 2-3, took a 9-point lead in the first quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Jaric Murica and a 14-yard TD run.

Simmons added scoring runs of 41 and one yards.

Returning from an injury, quarterback Phil Johnson Jr. completed 17 of 36 passes for 149 yards.

Gardena had a difficult time containing Birmingham running back Isaiah Hastings, who rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

The loss also prevented the Panthers from getting their second crack at Carson, who they would have visited Friday at 7 p.m. The Patriots will face the fourth seeded Colts (5-6), who finished second in Marine play behind top seeded Narbonne this season and lost to Narbonne in the L.A. City Division I final, 48-32, last year at East L.A. College’s Weingart Stadium.

The top ranked Gauchos (11-0) had no trouble disposing Locke, 57-14, in their first round game last Friday at Narbonne.

San Pedro (8-3), which finished third in the Marine after winning the league title last year, also won its first round game over Fairfax, 35-10, Friday at home.

Last place Washington played in the L.A. City Division II playoffs where it fell short of No. 2 seed Eagle Rock, 32-25, on Friday at Eagle Rock.