Gardena High’s young and inexperienced football team continued to struggle as it was, for the second straight time, routed by West Valley High from Hemet 45-13 in non-league play last Thursday at Gardena.
The Mustangs, who evened their record to 1-1, wasted little time on the Panthers, who fell to 0-2, jumping out to a 19-0 first quarter lead. Gardena managed to score its first touchdown on a 15-yard run by Davion Smith to cut West Valley’s lead to 19-7.
Gardena High’s young and inexperienced football team continued to struggle as it was, for the second straight time, routed by West Valley High from Hemet 45-13 in non-league play last Thursday at Gardena.
The Mustangs, who evened their record to 1-1, wasted little time on the Panthers, who fell to 0-2, jumping out to a 19-0 first quarter lead. Gardena managed to score its first touchdown on a 15-yard run by Davion Smith to cut West Valley’s lead to 19-7.
The Mustangs added two more TD’s and were threatening for another before DeShaun Owens stepped in to intercept a pass and run 80 yards for a score cutting West Valley’s lead to 32-13 midway in the second period.
From there, the Mustangs dominated as they took a 38-13 halftime lead on a 15-yard touchdown run by Shawn Montgomery late in the second quarter, then completed their scoring when Daron Gilderest ran 35 yards for a TD.
“Our numbers are low,” Gardena head coach David Austin said. “Most of our guys are going both ways. We must endure a little bit. Right now, I’m more concerned about developing these guys. When we step up, the boys will know how to be men.”
Austin, a 1999 graduate of Gardena High where he played football, replaced departed head mentor Vince Smith in May.
Gilderest sparked West Valley with three touchdowns. He added TDs on runs of 25 and 25 yards in the first half. Kash Taylor also scored for the Mustangs.
Gardena continues its rigid preseason schedule at Colony High in Ontario Friday at 7 p.m. After visiting North Hollywood on Sept. 16, the Panthers complete non-league play at Newbury Park on Sept. 30. Then, Gardena will be faced with the task of playing at defending CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I and California State Division IA champion Narbonne on Nov. 7 in Harbor City. The Gauchos are already 2-0 after wins over two other very good teams in Serra (34-12 on Aug. 26 at Serra) and last Friday against Long Beach Poly 25-13 last Friday at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.
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ECC begins new era with come-from-behind win
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Last Saturday, El Camino College’s football team, under first year head coach Gifford Lindheim, played its first game at the new Murdock Stadium II.
Like the new stadium that seemed like it was not totally completed due to not getting its new scoreboard working, the Warriors started out ineffective in the first half in their 2016 season opener against Los Angeles Southwest College. ECC’s offense was unable to get things going as it was unable to even get a first down for about the first 16 minutes of the contest and trailed 14-0 when Cougar quarterback Daquan Richardson threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Wise midway in the second quarter.
With about a minute before halftime, the Warriors finally got on the scoreboard as quarterback David Sills, a bounce back from University of West Virginia, found running back Nicholas Hutson from 13 yards out cutting Southwest’s lead to 14-7. That would ignite a string of 41 unanswered points as El Camino went on to down the Cougars 41-21.
The Warriors thoroughly dominated the third period with 27 points that was started when they tied the game at 14 on a 15-yard TD run by Mason Mulvihill. From there, running back Johnnell Jackson and Sills took over. He gave ECC the lead for good when he broke loose for a 49-yard scoring run. A 40-yard touchdown pass from Sills to tight end Erik Henneman gave El Camino a 28-14 advantage. Late in the third quarter, Sills and Henneman connected from 31 yards out and the Warriors completed three periods with a 34-14 lead.
“Everybody had to believe,” Jackson said. “At halftime, the coach gave us a good speech. We kept our momentum rolling.”
Jackson finished the game running for 104 yards and one TD on nine carries. JayQuan Waters carried the ball eight times for 51 yards and one touchdown. He scored the Warriors’ final TD on a 9-yard run giving them a 41-14 lead midway in the fourth quarter.
Southwest, located about five miles from ECC on the corner of Western Avenue and Imperial Boulevard, took advantage of a fumble to score its final touchdown. It started when linebacker David Redmond recovered a fumble by El Camino backup quarterback Conor Miller and ran the ball back tothe Warrior 18-yard line. Two plays later, Richardson completed his second touchdown pass to Wise for the final score.
It was another El Camino turnover that led to the Cougars’ first score midway in the first period. Sills was intercepted by Kamoni Rich who returned the ball 25 yards for the TD giving Southwest a 6-0 lead.
“We didn’t play well in the first half but we got things going (in the second half),” Lindheim said.
Lindheim was pleased that ECC was able to open its new stadium and his first game as the Warriors’ head coach with the win. “This meant a lot for the fans and the alumni,” Lindheim, who last season guided Santa Monica City College to an 11-0 season, said. “I’m pleased with the administration that hired me. The work process takes time.”
For the game, Sills completed nine of 19 passes for 161 yards and four touchdowns. El Camino played with the no-huddle offense that started slow but picked up in the second half.
El Camino goes to the road where it faces Moorpark College Saturday at 6 p.m. The Warriors have another road game at Grossmont College in El Cajon on Sept. 17 before returning home against Saddleback College from Mission Viejo on Sept. 24. ECC begins the National Central Conference at South Bay rival L.A. Harbor College on Oct. 15.
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Prep Football Roundup
Narbonne comes back to top Poly; North Torrance collects first win
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Last season, Narbonne High’s football team gave the CIF-Los Angeles City Section its first ever California state title with a IA championship over Concord Clayton Valley and the Gauchos appear on their way for another state title after their second straight win over a very good CIF-Southern Section Division I team in Long Beach Poly last Friday at Long Beach Veterans’ Stadium.
The Gauchos overcame an early 13-3 deficit to defeat the Jackrabbits 25-13.
After soundly defeating host Serra on Aug. 26, Narbonne quickly started its comeback on just its second drive of the third quarter. Cameron Denmark tied the game at 13 on a 19-yard touchdown run.
The Gauchos took the lead for good when Denmark scored his second TD on a 2-yard run. Denmark rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries.
In the fourth quarter, Narbonne put the game away when quarterback Jalen Chatman tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Juwan Tucker, completing a 60-yard, six-play drive.
Chatman completed 19 of 31 passes for 291 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Narbonne will continue its tough preseason against a 2-0 Palos Verdes at home Friday at 7 p.m. The Sea Kings are coming off a 40-7 home rout of Long Beach Cabrillo last Friday. The Sea Kings have a string of five consecutive Bay League crowns and were Western Division runner-ups to Calabasas last year.
North wins first: North Torrance High’s football team evened its record to 1-1 with a 33-19 home victory over Aliso Niguel from Aliso Viejo last Friday.
The Saxons were led by Malik Welch who scored two touchdowns on runs of 31 and 18 yards.
Quarterback Glenn Searcy passed for 210 yards and two TD’s and scored another. He threw a 51-yard scoring pass to J.J. Belmontes and had a 3-yard touchdown run. Saeed Galloway rushed for 132 yards and one TD on 11 carries.
North will host Bishop Montgomery Friday at 7 p.m.
West nips Culver City: Returning standout senior quarterback Drake Peabody started his season on the right foot as he accounted for 402 yards and four touchdowns as the host Warriors slipped past Culver City 34-33 in non-league play last Friday.
Peabody completed 20 of 29 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He rushed for 137 yards and two TD’s on 24 carries.
Wide receiver Shige Kato caught nine of those passes for 108 yards.
The Warriors opened the season ranked sixth in the CIF-Southern Section Division VI.
The Centaurs, rated third in the Southern Section Division XI, were led by quarterback Jonathan Martin who completed 24 of 42 passes for 263 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
West hosts Eastside High from Lancaster in non-league Friday at 7 p.m.
Torrance gets shut out: Torrance High’s football team was shut out by Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach 40-0 in their season opener last Friday at Zamperini Field.
The Mustangs, who began the season ranked third in the CIF-Southern Section Division VI, were led by senior quarterback David Arredondo who completed 11 of 17 passes for 57 yards and one touchdown and ran for 57 and one TD on 11 carries.
Despite being shut out, the Tartars were led by quarterback Ryan Carroll who completed 10 of 23 passes for 57 yards and one interception. He rushed for 44 yards.
The Tartars visit Culver City Friday at 7 p.m.
South falls to Lawndale: South Torrance High’s football team managed a 48-yard field goal by Kohl Kutch but the host Spartans fell to Lawndale 28-3 in non-league play last Friday.
The Cardinals (1-0) were led by sophomore running back Jordan Wilmore who carried the ball 15 times for 130 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown run.
Carson outlasts South East: Carson High’s football team was able to hold off South East from South Gate 38-36 in a non-league football opener last Thursday at Carson.
A game-saving interception by Demario Bias with 1:29 left in the game enabled the Colts to hang on.
Tyler Washington returned two kickoffs for touchdowns that included a 75-yard return that gave Carson the lead midway in the fourth quarter. Sophomore quarterback Jaja Bellinger completed four of six passes for 131 yards and one TD. Brian Keskeys caught all of those passes that included one for an 81-yard touchdown.
The Colts hosts a very good Hawkins team, currently ranked 23rd in Greater Los Angeles by the L.A. Times, Friday at 7 p.m.
Bishop Montgomery blanks Marquez: Bishop Montgomery High’s football team began its season by shutting out CIF-L.A. City Section school Marquez 23-0 last Thursday at home.
The Knights had a stingy defense, behind Bryce Matthews. He had two quarterback sacks, one in Marquez’s own end zone for a safety, and three knocked passes.
Offensively, Bishop Montgomery was led by quarterback Daniel Schubert who passed for 291 yards and two touchdowns.
The Knights, who won the South Catholic League last season, visit North Torrance in their second non-league action Friday at 7 p.m.
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Serra beaten by defending N.J. state champ; loss No. 3
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Serra High’s football team began its preseason play facing three defending state champions and fell to 0-3 with its latest defeat to New Jersey champion St. Joseph Regional High from Montvale 17-7 in an Honor Bowl contest last Saturday at Mission Viejo High.
A bad first quarter that saw St. Joseph score all of its 17 points proved pivotal to the Cavaliers, who are off to their worst start in decades. The Green Knights, who are currently ranked 15th in the United States by Maxpreps, took a 3-0 lead on a 33-yard field goal from kicker Angelo Guglielmello.
Serra had a chance to take the lead, driving inside the St. Joseph 20-yard line but was held on downs.
A few plays into the Green Knights’ next drive, Jordan Scott scored on a 77-yard run that gave St. Joseph a 10-0 lead.
The Cavaliers, again, had a chance to get close but a short 25-yard field goal attempt by Antonio Gomez was missed.
St. Joseph, again, cashed in on Serra’s missed opportunity as Louis Acceus scored on a 4-yard run to give the Green Knights a 17-0 lead. That score would hold up at halftime.
After several missed chances, Serra finally got on the scoreboard in the third period as quarterback Jalani Eason tossed a 6-yard TD pass to John Jackson.
Later in the game, the Cavaliers drove to the St. Joseph 15-yard line but a pair of holding penalties and a sack on Eason brought Serra all the way back to the 48. The Cavaliers were forced to punt and were unable to score, again.
After the three losses to Arizona Division II champion Saguaro (35-20 on Aug. 19 in Scottsdale), California State Division IA champion Narbonne (34-12 on Aug. 26 at Serra) and St. Joseph, Serra hopes to get its first win as it hosts L.A. City Section Division I power Dorsey Friday at 7 p.m. That will be the Cavaliers’ final non-league game before opening the Mission League against an outstanding Chaminade squad from West Hills on Sept. 23.
