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.

Trabuco Hills proves unfriendly guest at Charter Oak

Trabuco HIlls beat Charter Oak, 27-3, at Charter Oak High to advance to next week's Southwest Division championship game.

For Mustangs running back Matt Wagner, getting to the finals may ultimately feel just as good as winning the championship. That's because the Mustangs' semifinal victory came against the team that ended their season in the semifinals last year.

Birmingham advances to section championship with 42-6 triumph

RB Milton Knox rushed for 186 yards and four TDs in 34 carries and became only the 13th player in state history to rush for 100 career TDs as top-seeded Birmingham cruised to a 42-6 victory over fourth-seeded Crenshaw in the Championship Division semifinals on Friday night.

Crenshaw QB Cameron Hart connected on 11 of 35 pass attempts for 174 yards and a TD. WR Kemonte Bateman scored on a 10-yard TD pass for the Cougars.

The top-seeded Patriots (12-1) will play second-seeded Carson (11-2), a 6-0 winner over Dorsey in the other semifinal, in the title game at 8 p.m. at the Coliseum.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Poly clings to 2-0 lead, but it's still anyone's game

So far, both Orange Lutheran and Long Beach Poly have had some success in doing what they want to do. Poly hasn't turned the ball over, Lutheran hasn't allowed the big play -- unless you count those series of downs at the end of the first half when Lutheran had first and goal on the one-yard line and failed to score.

In the press box, my cronies in the peanut gallery seem to believe that Lutheran may have scored on Bobby Wheatley's second-down sneak, and/or on Tyson Seneca's third-down carry. But clearly, Seneca failed to score on fourth down.

Birmingham's Knox scores TD No. 100

Birmingham RB Milton Knox, pictured from an earlier game, scored on a 3-yard run with 1:56 left in the game against Crenshaw to record his 100th career TD. The Patriots lead, 42-6, and Knox has 186 yards rushing and four TDs on the night.

Knox becomes the first City Section player to eclipse the 100-TD plateau and only the 13th player in state history to reach the mark.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image by Richard Hartog/Los Angeles Times

Hart extends advantage to 31-6 after three quarters

Things got worse for Newbury Park in the second half. Johnny MacArthur intercepted a Colby Cameron pass on the Panthers opening drive of the third quarter and Hart took over at its own 15-yard line. Delano Howell, pictured, made Cameron pay for the mistake. Made him pay dearly.

The senior running back nearly single-handedly drove the Indians down the field. First he picked up 18 yards on a run. Then there was a 29-yard reception from B.R. Holbrook, followed by a 16-yard gain on the ground. Finally, he scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to give Hart a 24-6 lead with 6:28 left in the third quarter.

Birmingham leads 35-0 after relatively boring third quarter

Boy, that was a long, boring third quarter -- maybe the most dull quarter I've ever witnessed in a playoff game.

Thanks to an 18-yard TD run by Morey Croson, top-seeded Birmingham leads fourth-seeded Crenshaw, 35-0, heading into the final frame. Not much happened in the third, except a bunch of incomplete passes that kept stopping the clock. And there were a lot of referee timeouts for some reason, too.

I wish Crenshaw would just run the ball and get it over with. They're obviously no match for the Birmingham defense and the Cougars should just try to run out the clock so we can all go home and talk about who the Patriots will play in the finals next Friday night in the Coliseum.

Poly's goal line stand makes a statement

I like the move. I like that Orange Lutheran went for the touchdown on fourth down and just inches from scoring against Long Beach Poly's defense. Heck, if you can't score from the one in four downs, maybe you don't deserve to win.

If Bobby Wheatley didn't get the ball over the plane of the goal line on second down, it sure looked like Tyson Seneca did on Lutheran's third-down play. But he didn't on fourth down, as Kenny Tuiloma wrapped up Seneca.

Great defensive stand by the Jackrabbits.

Polk returns with REV trailing, 22-10, early in the fourth quarter

Redlands East Valley's offense used up the first eight minutes of the third quarter but had to settle for a 26-yard field goal that cut Corona Santiago's lead in this Inland Division semifinal to 22-10.

The Sharks went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half. Santiago is beginning to make mistakes. The Wildcats have twice got the Sharks to jump offsides on fourth and short, including a fourth and four near midfield on REV's second drive of the half.

For Orange Lutheran's Wheatley, this could be his moment to shine

Bobby Wheatley is poised to be a hero. Blake Hyepock was injured on a seven-yard run with a little over 10 minutes left in the second quarter. That means Wheatley is getting his chance. A sophomore who was beaten out for the job at the beginning of the season, Wheatley now becomes a wild card for Orange Lutheran.

Can he fulfill the Lancer game plan?

Does he bring something to the table that Poly is not ready to deal with?

Hart is in the lead, 17-6, at halftime

Hart didn’t open the second quarter the way it had hoped, after David Gru sacked B.R. Holbrook, forcing a fumble that Newbury Park recovered at midfield. The Panthers weren’t able to capitalize, resulting in a Colby Cameron punt deep into Hart territory. The long field didn’t matter to the Indians. They were determined to finish the quarter strong despite an inauspicious start.

Long Beach Poly draws first blood on a safety

So the ball just got snapped over the head of Orange Lutheran punter James Rammelsberg. He wisely -- I think -- ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Hmm, seems like the shoe was on the other foot last season, when Orange Lutheran benefited from a safety in its 23-22 victory over Long Beach Poly.

So, apparently, what goes around comes around.

It's a smart move, ultimately. The Lancers are able to keep Poly out of the end zone -- and off the scoreboard -- as Jordan Heinze's field goal attempt is blocked. Poly still is looking very stout thus far as it tries to put itself in the title game for the 21st time.

Carson clings to 6-0 lead as Dons are getting frustrated

Carson stopped Dorsey at the Colt's one-yard line in the first half.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Dons are inside Carson's five, but any incomplete pass on fourth down frustrates the Dons again.

Carson still leads, 6-0, in their City Championship Division semifinal.

-- Mike Tery

REV, Santiago combine for three touchdowns in last 1:13 of first half

Wild last two minutes of the first half here at the Inland Division semifinal between third-seeded Redlands East Valley and wild-card Corona Santiago.

That Haka rain dance by Redlands East Valley before the game seemed to be backfiring as the Sharks scored two touchdowns in the last 1:13 of the first half to build a 22-0 lead.

However, Chris Polk, pictured, fielded a kickoff with three seconds left and ran it back for a sensational touchdown, cutting the deficit to 22-7.

Poly's got the look on the first drive, but stalls

On the first drive of the game, Poly's Melvin Richardson, pictured carrying the ball in an earlier game, looks like he's a step away from breaking a long one. But then Poly got cute and tried to run a reverse to WR Randall Cox, and Blake Ayles threw him for an 11-yard loss.

Good thing, too. It's fourth and four from their 42, the drive having stalled like a Ford Fiesta. Poly's punting.

My guess is that Richardson breaks one before the night's over, but Lutheran desperately needs to prevent the big plays by the quicker Jackrabbits.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image by Lori Shepler/Los Angeles Times

Top-seeded Birmingham dominates, as expected

Well, the Birmingham-Crenshaw game is quickly turning into the blowout I thought it would live up to be.

Thanks to a bizarre 64-yard TD reception by WR De'von Flournoy on Birmingham's first pass attempt of the game, the Patriots lead, 28-0, at halftime.

Flournoy's TD, however, could have easily been an interception off QB Morey Croson. DB Clint Floyd actually bobbled the ball before it bounced into the hands of Flournoy, who fended off a last-ditch tackle attempt by another defender to score.

If he has any pull, Poly won't fumble

Raul Lara, pictured, was moving benches around on the sideline while Poly was warming up. He's the head coach of the Jackrabbits.

You'd think he has enough pull to make someone else do it.

Both coaches agree that turnovers are a big deal tonight. Orange Lutheran has lost one of the two games in which it lost the turnover battle.

Poly has lost something like 17 fumbles this season, or 21.  Anyway, it's a lot.

Last year in a 23-22 loss to Lutheran in a Pac-5 semifinal, Poly lost four fumbles.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image by Gerard Burkhart/Los Angeles Times

They get their quarter in the semifinals

You really have to hand it to the folks who make money off the Home Depot Center.

No, you really do. Hand it over.

Charter Oaks loses TDs to penalities and trails Trabuco Hills, 7-3

Trabuco Hills is up, 7-3, at halftime, but Charter Oak has had two touchdowns called back because of penalties.

The first penalty, a holding call, nullified a punt return by Mickey Harrell that would have given the host Chargers an early 7-0 lead.

Carson's Sula is running hard, as usual

The rain has stopped.

But nothing so far -- neither Dorsey's defense nor a muddy field -- has stopped Carson running back Jack Sula.

Sula, pictured, who had 226 yards against Dorsey in last year's playoff victory, has 100 yards in 17 carries at halftime tonight. He also has the game's only touchdown, and Carson is clinging to a 6-0 lead at intermission.

-- Mike Terry

-- Image by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

Newbury Park leads Hart, 6-3, after first quarter

Both Newbury Park and Hart have exercised caution in the early going. Nerves might have something to do with it. We are, after all, talking about a game with plenty at stake with the winner advancing to next weekend’s Northern Division championship at the Home Depot Center.

After going three and out on its first possession, the Hart offense loosened up the next time out. B.R. Holbrook completed passes of 20 and 37 yards to Demitri Diamond and then rushed for two first downs. Johnny MacArthur capped the 13-play, 87-yard drive that took 5:32 off the clock with a 22-yard field as the Indians opened up a 3-0 lead.

Santiago strikes first in Inland Division semifinal

This is what football is all about. Pouring rain, no cheerleaders or band, just hard-core fans. Ideal weather for reporting? Not really.

Santiago scored first on a nine-yard touchdown run by Anthony Dye with 10:36 remaining in the second quarter. The two-point run was also good, so it's 8-0 and the greatest upset in Southern Section history is brewing.

Birmingham's Knox is only one TD shy of a Benjamin

Birmingham's Milton Knox has scored three TDs as of 6:41 of the second quarter to give the Patriots a 21-0 lead. This latest TD came after Marquis Jackson recovered a botched Crenshaw snap on the Panthers' 11.

Knox is now only one TD away from 100 for his career, a feat only 12 other players in state history have accomplished.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Birmingham leads 14-0 over Crenshaw after late start

The Birmingham-Crenshaw game was delayed about 10 minutes because there were no yard markers on the sidelines. The referees insisted -- and rightly so -- that the markers be put on the field, but neither team was pleased about the mini-fiasco.

Once the game got started, Birmingham was the first team on the scoreboard. Thanks to a 47-yard run by QB Exavier Johnson on the Patriots' first offensive play of the game, Knox scored on a 1-yard run after recording a 19-yard carry that appeared to be a TD until the sideline judge ruled he ran out of bounds.

Trabuco Hills, Charter Oak scoreless in second quarter

Midway through the second quarter of this Southwest Division semifinal, host Charter Oak and Trabuco Hills are tied at 0-0 in the rain and the mud. The winner will play the winner of tomorrow's game between South Hills and El Dorado.

Former NFL QB Vince Ferragamo is here doing play-by-play for Cox 3 in Orange County. Also here is Diamond Ranch Coach Roddy Layton, who's teaching me about football, and we're both learning how to keep dry.

--Jaime Cardenas

-- Image from themudhouse.ifrance.com

Sula's score gives Carson a 6-0 lead after one quarter

Jack Sula's five-yard touchdown run has given Carson a 6-0 lead after the first quarter of their City Section's Championship Division semifinal tonight at Carson High.

Sula already has 72 yards in 10 carries for the second-seeded Colts.

-- Mike Terry

-- Image by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

Redlands East Valley, Santiago settling in for Inland semifinal

Just completed my final Friday night crawl to the Inland Empire this fall. Made it here to Yucaipa in a little more than two hours. Redlands East Valley just performed its pregame Haka ritual, one that has created a bit of a stir among some opponents, who probably think they're being subjected to an evil spell. Mother Nature must have thought it was nothing more than a rain dance, however, because it just started to pour.

The Sharks retreated to the opposite end zone during the Haka, probably so REV's evil spell didn't reach them. The only part of the Haka that seems a little extreme is when the players pretend like their going for the kill while swordfighting. Other than that, it's G-rated, all the way.

Sure nice to be back in the saddle at College of the Canyons

Hope everyone is sitting down for this. Ready? I'm not in the office tonight. That's right, I'm out in the field, covering the Northern Division playoff semifinal game between Hart and Newbury Park at College of the Canyons.

I arrived about an hour and half early, just in time to grab a seat in the now over-crowded press box and catch Newbury Park warming up. Good news for the Panthers fans is that star running back Chris Brown appears to ready to go after being plagued with a troublesome knee injury earlier this week.

Crespi beats Servite in overtime, 13-10

It wasn't a DJ that decided the Pac-5 Division semifinal Friday at Home Depot Center, but an EJ.

EJ Woods dove over the mass of bodies at the line of scrimmage from two yards to give Crespi a 13-10 overtime victory over Servite.

Servite was primed for a goal-line stand after the Celts drove to the one-yard line. Woods took a direct snap and was tackled for a one-yard loss.

Servite gets field goal in overtime; Crespi gets its turn

Servite fed Crespi a steady diet of DJ Shoemate in the overtime. Shoemate, who touched the ball, like, three times in the first half, carried five consecutive plays. A bootleg by Johnny McEntee was stopped with a nice open-field tackle by Lonell Jones for no gain at the nine-yard line.

Nick Echeverry booted a 27-yard field goal for the Friars, who lead, 10-7.

-- Martin Henderson

It's time for overtime at the Home Depot Center

Servite's bid to win the game in regulation looks like it's going to end.

After a couple of runs by DJ Shoemate, the  Friars converted  a third-and-one by having Greg Portis run to the right -- instead of behind all-everything left tackle Matt Kalil. He picked up four yards. Still, Servite has to punt after Karim Williams sacks Johnny McEntee and then McEntee trips out of shotgun formation when he starts to backpedal.

Crespi gets the ball at its own 10 wtih 23.7 seconds left but runs out the clock

It's 7-7 at the end of regulation. Time for overtime.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.ebonite.com

Birmingham's Knox on the verge of another milestone

Milton Knox is on the cusp on achieving yet another milestone.

Entering tonight's Championship Division semifinal between top-seeded Birmingham and fourth-seeded Crenshaw, the Patriots senior RB is just four TDs away from having 100 for his career.

He already surpassed former North Hollywood standout Marlon Lucky's previous section record of 81 earlier this year. But if he reaches 100, he'll be only the 13th player in state history to hit paydirt 100 times.

Servite may get last chance to settle it in regulation

If the game is to be decided in regulation, it looks like Servite is going to get the chance to do it. The team that won last week over Esperanza, 10-7, gets the ball at its 37 with 2:47 left.

How many times can DJ Shoemate touch the ball?

Crespi's going to discuss it. The Celts call a timeout to count the ways.

-- Martin Henderson

Tick-tock, tied score, tick-tock, overtime?

Servite got a fortuitous bounce when a pass went off RB Greg Portis' hands and into the hands of Luis Escalante. The play went for 25 yards, but the drive stalled and the Friars were forced to punt.

Crespi took over at its 14. Austin Shanks ran for 14. Less than five minutes remain on the clock.

"Overtime" was just mentioned in the press box. Quick, knock on wood.

Crespi punts.

-- Martin Henderson

Teams trade possessions as clock ticks down

The first break of the fourth quarter comes on its second play. Johnny McEntee's pass trickles off the hands of RB Greg Portis -- and into the arms of Crespi's Adam Gottschalk at the 50.

Gottschalk's return gives Crespi the ball at the Servite 46.

There are no umbrellas allowed inside the Home Depot Center. Not even for well-intentioned media. However, Cardinal Mahony curiously has an umbrella on the Crespi sidelines.

Hmmmm.

Servite, Crespi still knotted at 7-7 after three quarters

A holding call wiped out Austin Shanks' third-and-10, 24-yard run which would have taken Crespi to the Servite 21-yard line. Next  play, Servite linebacker Austin Niklas dropped what would have been an interception at about the Servite 40. Crespi was forced to punt, and Servite took over at the 27.

DJ Shoemate got the first carry of the drive and covered nine yards. McEntee passed for nine yards. Shoemate carried for two. The Friars have the ball at their 42 at the conclusion of the third quarter, with the score tied at 7-7.

Fans of tight ends, rejoice in Fauria and Ayles

Joseph Fauria just caught a pass from Brian Bennett for a 16-yard gain. Fans of tight ends are getting their money's worth tonight. Fauria. pictured, for Crespi, and in the later game, Blake Ayles of Orange Lutheran.

Fauria has committed to Notre  Dame. Ayles has committed to USC.

Yep, it's a good night for fans of tight ends.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times

Shoemate comes alive and Servite ties the score, 7-7

DJ Shoemate touches the ball on the sixth play of Servite's drive. He catches a pass out of the backfield from Johnny McEntee for a 45-yard gain. Is this not what my colleague, Eric Sondheimer, has been suggesting all night?

Servite converts a fourth-and-one situation from the five-yard line. Shoemate is the decoy, but Bijon Samoody converts -- after a measurement. Shoemate carries to the one, and then Shoemate dives over the line for the score, his helmet launching off his head when he hits the ground.... It's a Kodak moment.

Crespi converts fake punt, then turns ball over via interception

Crespi received the ball to open the second half. I have to admit, it's often-times tough to look good in brown, but the Celt uniforms really are sharp.

They also showed they're willing to gamble with their seven-point lead. On fourth down from their own 27, a fake punt, then a 14-yard pass from the up man, Lucky Radley, to Jeremiah McKibbins, gave Crespi a first down.

That's gutsy, but it's for naught. On the next play, Brian Bennett overthrew everyone except Servite DB Bijon Simoody, who made an over-the-shoulder catch. Servite has the ball its own 24.

DJ Shoemate, where are you?

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.myhomecooking.net

Getting down and dirty ... really dirty ... at Carson

I arrived early to Carson for the Carson-Dorsey City Section semifinal game, and I was not surprised by what I saw. The middle of the field looks like a 100-yard mudpuddle, thanks to the day-long rain, which has yet to stop.

I'm not sure what can be done -- if anything -- to dry the field besides setting it in fire. Maybe both teams will bring extra uniforms.

-- Mike Terry

-- Image from thumbs.dreamstime.com

It's halftime, and Celts are dominating, but scoreboard shows only 7-0

It's halftime in the Pac-5 Division semifinal between Servite and Crespi, and the Celts are on top, 7-0. That hardly tells how dominant Crespi was in the first half at the Home Depot Center.

Servite managed only one first down in four offensive possessions. Crespi ran and threw the ball effectively. The fact the Friars are down by only one touchdown is about the only positive thing to say. D.J. Shoemate has carried the ball only twice.

A fumble on the five-yard line by Crespi's E.J. Woods was the only play preventing a first-half rout for the Celts. The rain is coming down, but the field is in good shape. We'll see if Servite decides to change its strategy in the second half.

-- Eric Sondheimer

 

Crespi sticks Servite in 7-0 hole, and it could be worse for Friars

Austin Shanks' one-yard touchdown plunge with 2:22 left in the second quarter gave Crespi a 7-0 lead over Servite in a Pac-5 Division semifinal game at the Home Depot Center.

The Celts seemed ready to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Christian Nastos, but Servite was called for roughing the kicker. That gave Crespi the ball on the eight, and three plays later, Shanks scored. It was a 70-yard, 16-play drive.

Crespi has dominated offensively and defensively. Servite has yet to pick up a first down in three possessions. The Friars are fortunate it's only 7-0.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Crespi, Servite are scoreless after first quarter