Birmingham's defense shines again in 42-6 semifinal victory

I know I had a lot to say about RB Milton Knox's performance, but it was the Birmingham defense that carried the Patriots to a 42-6 victory over Crenshaw in a Championship Division semifinal on Friday night.

The Patriots held Crenshaw to negative-2 yards rushing and kept QB Cameron Hart under control. Sure, Hart had a decent game, connecting on 11 of 35 passes for 174 yards and a TD, but if that's all you're giving up, then you're going to win a lot of games.

"The defense played great tonight," Birmingham Coach Ed Croson said. "I thought we really kept them in check the whole time.... I'm really happy with where we're at as a team heading into next week."

Poly hangs on by a hare, 2-0, in Pac-5 victory over Orange Lutheran

Long Beach Poly put up a valiant goal-line stand at the end of the first half. Asking the Jackrabbits to do the same at the end of the game seemed like too much.

It wasn't.

On second down at the one-yard line, Herman Davidson recovered an Orange Lutheran fumble with 17 seconds remaining to give Poly a 2-0 victory over last season's Pac-5 Division champion at the Home Depot Center.

Charter Oak is left with only what-if's and what-could-have-been's

After any game there's always going to be "what ifs." That is certainly the case for Charter Oak after it lost to Trabuco Hills, 27-3, in the Southwest Division semifinals Friday night.

The Chargers have plenty of 'em.

What if two touchdowns don't get called back because of penalties in the first half?

What if they tackle better?

What if it doesn't rain?

"There's no doubt (the rain) hurt both teams," said Trabuco Hills Coach Jason Negro, whose Mustangs play on artificial turf. "Especially with the speed they have."

Coaches need to set better examples

After Birmingham's 42-6 semifinal victory over Crenshaw on Friday night, one of the on-field adults with the Cougars' football team began yelling profanities at the Birmingham players who were lining up to shake hands. He also was encouraging Crenshaw players not to shake hands.

However, once the adult in question quieted down and walked away, some of the players and coaches shook hands. Some opposing players were even hugging each other and posing for photos after the partial-team handshake.

"I don't know what happened," Birmingham Coach Ed Croson said. "They didn't want to shake hands. Go ask them."

Milton eclipses 2,000-yard plateau in Birmingham win

Birmingham RB Milton Knox expressed a sense of relief that TD No. 100 was over and done with after the top-seeded Patriots' 42-6 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Crenshaw on Friday night.

"I'm glad to get it over with," Knox said. "I didn't want to worry about that going into the Coliseum."

Trailing, 2-0, Lutheran gets its chance to begin fourth quarter

Blake Hyepock won't be coming back tonight. The Orange Lutheran QB has a sprained ankle. It's Bobby Wheatley's game.

He goes deep on the first play of a Lutheran drive, but badly underthrows receiver Chris Woods. Poly's offense stalls against OL, though, so as we go into the fourth quarter, Lutheran -- and Wheatley -- get the ball at their own 20.

Looks like they made it

Carson Coach Michael Christensen wore a happy grin that was more relief than jubilation.

Yes, Carson was going to the CIty's Championship Division final next Friday night at the Coliseum by virtue of its 6-0 semifinal victory over Dorsey.

Yes, Jack Sula played his final home game with elan, rushing for 193 yards and a touchdown in 30 carries.

Howell, Hart stroll past Newbury Park, 37-6

Well, it’s been a rather uneventful fourth quarter. Just Hart’s Delano Howell doing damage like he‘s done for a majority of the game.

His 1-yard touchdown plunge capped a 10-play, 99-yard drive that took 7:08 off the clock to give the Indians a 37-6 lead.

The senior running back has 269 yards rushing in 30 carries and has scored four touchdowns. And there’s still six-plus minutes left in the game!

Can’t imagine we’ll be seeing Howell anymore tonight. Bet the Panthers wished they could say the same thing at this point.

Santiago puts some big bites on REV in 25-10 victory

I'm done predicting.

Corona Santiago, the lone wild-card entrant in the Inland Division, took on third-seeded Redlands East Valley tonight in a semifinal at Yucaipa High and, flat out, was the better team, advancing to its first section final with a 25-10 victory.

The nail in REV's coffin came late in the third quarter with the Sharks holding a 22-10 lead. Redlands East Valley running back Chris Polk had just run for a first down to about the Santiago 30-yard line, but UCLA-bound safety Anthony Dye came up with a huge hit, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Sharks and injuring the left shoulder of Polk, who has committed to USC.

Score an early one for the Bruins!

Lutheran shows signs of life, but still nothing on scoreboard

Orange Lutheran failed to get on the board during its first drive of the third quarter. The drive took up more than half the quarter but failed when James Rammelsberg's 46-yard field goal attempt was wide left into a left-to-right crosswind.

The Lancers were pretty daring on their drive, though.