As City Section favorites fall, others are ready to pounce
When the City Section football season began, Narbonne and Dorsey were considered the clear favorites in Division I. Four weeks later, there’s uncertainty regarding both teams and opportunities for others to step into contention.
Narbonne (2-2) was routed by Corona Centennial 52-6 on Friday night. The Gauchos’ passing attack has struggled against top defenses. The question is, will it wake up against City competition?
Dorsey (0-3) has lost to Calabasas, Gardena Serra and Bellflower St. John Bosco, all top 25 teams from the Southern Section. The Dons’ line play is a major issue.
So which teams are poised to take advantage?
Crenshaw improved to 3-1 with a 49-0 win over Garfield. The Cougars are waiting for quarterback Isaiah Johnson, a transfer from Los Angeles, to become eligible on Oct. 2. Their offensive line is outstanding and they have top athletes in defensive backs James Day and Jared Greenfield and receiver Rayshawn Williams. Greenfield has filled in capably as the temporary quarterback.
Carson, under first-year coach Arnold Ale, is 2-2 after a 23-20 win over Westchester in which Javier Beccera made a game-winning 20-yard field (his third field goal of the game) with 34 seconds left. The Colts are set to pick up a number of transfer players on Oct. 2, four days before playing Narbonne in their Marine League opener. Quarterback Jaja Bellinger has nine touchdown passes.
South Gate (2-2) pulled off the biggest City Section upset, handing Palisades its first defeat 32-31. Will Lucas had two interceptions, Lucio Rodriguez recorded 16 tackles and Dondell Findley made eight catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Top performances
Max Perez of Granada Hills scored six touchdowns in a 63-21 win over Kennedy.
Jordan Wilmore of Lawndale rushed for 232 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 63-6 win over Leuzinger.
K.C. Carr of Tustin rushed for 358 yards in 40 carries and scored five touchdowns in a 35-24 win over Trabuco Hills.
Sophomore quarterback Jameson Wang of Studio City Harvard-Westlake completed 11 of 12 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns in 62-29 win over El Camino Real.
Rising sophomore
Any concerns about replacing record-breaking quarterback Tristan Gebbia of Calabasas have quickly disappeared with the play of sophomore quarterback Jaden Casey. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns in the Coyotes’ 48-29 victory over Oxnard Pacifica.