Football: Carson welcomes Crenshaw challenge

Carson has won 11 City Section championships, so the Colts aren't exactly shaking in fear in preparation for their City Division I title showdown against Crenshaw on Saturday at the Coliseum.

"Getting to a championship is just a start," Coach Elijah Asante said. "The reason they hired me was to win the championship."

Carson is the No. 1 seed, but most make No. 2 Crenshaw the favorite.

"That's why we play this great game called football so you can have your own opinion," Asante said. "Crenshaw lost two games this year."

As for playing the Cougars, Asante said, "It's an honor to be here and go up against Coach Garrett. This is what it's all about. This is what we love. No one has an inferiority complex. We're coming to win a championship."

-- Eric Sondheimer

Comments

[Not a Fan]

Carson would of done a lot better had their coach not taught them the "Park Football" offense. 5 wide everyone just run around and try to get open, oh and when we need a first down on 3rd and long.... lets run the ball. If we need to run we line up in I backs and when we gonna pass we line up in 5 wide or doubles. At least they have a good D or they wouldn't of made it this far, Even Colts fans have to admit this offense is terrible. Same goes for Crenshaw, but they make up for it in super weapons.

[justcya]

So much for the SUB-Marine League.

All week we were hearing about how tough the Marine League is, it has the best teams. Blah, blah, blah. Now, CRICKETS!! So here are some facts about the "tough" Marine League.

Fact: Last year in the City Finals, Crenshaw blasted Narbonne 34-14. Narbonne was from the MARINE LEAGUE
Fact: In the 2010 City Quaterfinals, Crenshaw stomped Narbonne again, this time 49-14. Narbonne was from the MARINE LEAGUE
Fact: In the 2010 City Finals, Crenshaw smashed Carson 45-7. Carson was from the MARINE LEAGUE
Fact: Only reason we didn't smash San Pedro in the payoffs this year was that they tapped out against Venice. Otherwise that 63-12 beatdown would have been theirs.
Face it, the Marine League may have been tough. However, when it comes to the playoffs, their teams struggle against the faster, more athletic teams. teams such as the 2010 LA CITY CHAMPION CRENSHAW COUGARS!!

[CMen]

Wait! History was made by Carson! It was the first team in the L A Coliseum to have 4 players, yes 4 players on the field why the Shaw was attempting an extra point! Make sure you add that to the Carson Archives. Also include giving and stopped fighting!
THE REAL "C" HOUSE

[Crenshaw soliders]

So, all week it was:
"Carson has won 11 times..."
"Carson has beaten Crenshaw before..."
"Carson has alot more speed than, or can be up to par with Crenshaw... De'Anthony Thomas..."
"History..."
"Tradition..."
"Marine League tougher..."

Then, the day arrived where Crenshaw won against Carson, a shell shocking (to Carson Fans) 45-7 victory. I wonder why it takes teams til the 4th quarter to put up a score, and most of the time its that only score they get. De'Anthony is not the team, but he is, a play maker. And thats what Carson didn't have, a play maker. Like they all said, "Back to back baby... Back to back..."

There was only 2 teams that had ever went "Back to back..." now, theres one more. And if we could just reflect on how tough the Marine League was, sorry, is... were... could be? (Since Carson fans love history so much) it would go to show that Crenshaw never even came close to losing a playoff game.

Back to back baby, Back to back...

[justcya]

AMBER ALERT: Looking for some missing Carson bloggers who were talking all week about being the number one seed, history, tradition, yada, yada, yada. Last seen in the vicinity of the Coliseum watching a HISTORICALLY bad performance by the Carson Colts. History and tradition do not win championships. Great teams do. If we want to see history and tradition, we will watch old clips of the Green Bay Packers. If we want to see Champions, we will watch the CRENSHAW COUGARS!!

[Crenshaw '85]

Boy, I hear Crickets. 45-7, Wow!

[310]

I'm tired of reading about how people compare who won a blow out against a good team or who won a tightly contested battle against weak teams. The point is, it doesn't matter. At any given day, any team has a chance to win. Remember Stanford against HEAVILY favored and far superior USC in 2007? Appalachian State over Michigan at the Big House the same year? or going back to high school ball, Banning over Carson in the 2000 City Championship game? or how about #15 seed Jefferson over #2 seed Carson in 2002?

The point is you can compare stats but you can't predict score based on who blew out who. Different teams match up differently. Some styles do well against others. It's all about game planning, which coaching staff and team had the better week of practice, which team is more disciplined. No disrespect to Carson or Crenshaw, but you can have behemoth lineman and great speedy skill position players but that does not always translate to wins.

I expect a great game Saturday. It will be tightly contested.

[caligriddude]

Interesting ......Sondheimer writes about Crenshaw's awesome line play - I agree ...they are awesome.....but they haven't faced a quicker, tougher pair of o and d lines like Carson's - it was very difficult for Taft to block these guys - and believe me, those Taft dudes are big, strong and can ball! Also, has anyone thought of the possible match-up issues for both teams? Carson's tall receivers 6-1, 6-1, 6-2, and 6-5, versus Crenshaw's tough, fast little DB's or how about Alo's ability to scramble against the Crenshaw D or McConico's ability to utilize Floyd, Thomas, and Shelton out of the backfield, against the good, but smallish Carson linebackers? As I've said on other posts, this could be a City final for the ages.

[Crenshaw '85]

One more thing before I sit back. Just like Carson, we put in our younger players when the game is out of hand; however, they just keep scoring, which is a testimony to what is coming back next year. Crenshaw is here to stay, Like It or Not! Some of you are asking whether our athletes have grades. Well, read this article by our beloved Eric Sondheimer.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-sondheimer-crenshaw-20101112,0,4025394.column

Then sit back and ponder!

[THE CRENSHAW NATION]

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy everybody make their bold predictions. All I ask from everyone is that if your team loses just come and give the winning team some love back here on the blog. If we play like we have the last 11 weeks it would be hard for any team in LA to beat us. That being said it will be around 80 degrees and I hope both schools will have their fans come out on what should be an epic high school football game!!!! Can't wait till Saturday. Good luck to both teams.

THE CRENSHAW NATION

[Colt Stampede]

That is absolutely right about Carson playing youngsters in the 2nd half of games which is why you don't see the blowouts. Against Taft Carson had a sophmore RB playing and he even had a nice TD run.The game experience will payoff more than them sitting on the bench while the starters rack up stats. Everybody keeps talking as if Crenshaw has an advantage on the O and D lines but Carson's lines are big,strong and very active! I can't wait to see this one play out!

[DB]

It's good for LA high school football to have Carson relevant agains and their coach deserves props for doing just that. Personally, his remark about Crenshaw's two losses were off base however. N. Gwinnett was GA's #1 team until about 3 weeks ago when they were upset in the playoffs and Norco was good this year. They lost both games in dogfights by less than a TD so they could easily be 13-0 vs. 11-2. Crenshaw will beat Carson by 10 points if their young QB can be steady. Thomas is too much for any team to stop but has a penchant for getting hurt at the wrong time (see De La Salle, and Gwinnett games for evidence).

[Crenshaw '85]

@Blue Fried
That was yesteryear, this is today. Take your whoopin' like a "Fan". Carson, had a powerhouse. Don't get me wrong, I respect Carson's history. We did then and still do now, whoop Carson in Basketball, so what! It is right now we are talking about. I bet your boys understand the "Here and Now". The Colts about to be decleated and there is nothing you can do about it! Stop living in the past! My senior year when we played Carson, we lost, but by 6 points. In fact, we were on Carson's 15 yard line about to score and the refs called the game early. So, I felt no fear from Carson then and even less now. Crenshaw is ready! For all of you saying that you must simply stop Black Mamba, you are absolutely wrong! The stats will tell you that we have too many weapons to account for. Scoring comes from everywhere. You will see!

[all about us]

Asante asked his team, What's it all about and they all responded "It's all about us!".

[Mentality]

Asante said, "It's an honor to be here and go up against Coach Garrett. This is what it's all about. This is what we love. No one has an inferiority complex. We're coming to win a championship."

The Carson players have taken on the mentality of their coach. They are not scared of Crenshaw and they know they are going to win the championship.

[Carson or Nothing]

...yeah and Carson beat Banning by 27 more points than Crenshaw did. These kind of stats mean nothing. Fact is that Carson plays alot of their second and third team after haftime choosing to get young players more experience rather than run up the score with Dion Willis.

[Caligriddude]

Once again - as in all championship football games - I agree - the line play will absolutely determine the winner. Going into the game it appears that Crenshaw has the better line play / however, Carson's line played great against a huge Taft offensive line. Also, the Carson defensive scheme, if smart enough, could make Crenshaw adjust some things. Check this game out on Saturday people; this game is not going to be decided by 20 points - trust me / this will be s much tighter game than that. Don't be shocked to see this game go to the last team with the ball.

[BLUE PRIDE]

Crenshaw has been Carson's doormat since the old school Pacific League and as recent as the last time we kick their butt in the championship in '99. Black Monba? How many Monba's have come through Carson??? We invented the moniker... We used to blow the 'Shaw out so bad that our Bees used to get in the game. This will be another scrimmage game for Carson. Please see Al Washington (1983) regarding another time we stomped the 'Shaw at the Coliseum...

[justcya]

Carson got the number one seeding based on the strenght of the schedule they played. The analysts are making predictions based on the play of the two teams throughout the playoffs. In all of this back and forth, the folks from Carson tend to omit the fact that in a playoff game two weeks ago, Crenshaw destroyed a Narbonne team that Carson barely beat in a league game. And they did it with DeAnthony Thomas touching the ball only two times. Everyone talks about the team speed of Crenshaw, but the fact is against Narbonne and Venice, it was less about team speed than domination of the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball by Crenshaw. This is what Carson really has to deal with. We'll see how they fare on Saturday.

[Overated]

Crenshaw lost to a Norco team that lost a second round playoff game 45-0.

[Crenshaw '85]

The reason why Crenshaw lost the first two games is because of the quarterback position. Since the change, the Shaw has ben putting up phonomenal numbers. The former quarterback is scoring like crazy from the reciever position. When you look at the stats, scoring comes from all over the field including defensively. Teams don't know whether they should call a time out or what, before the score 28-0. The defense is lightening quick and super strong. I predict Crenshaw 42 Carson 21!

[Number One]

Carson has won all of its games in closely contested battles, Crenshaw on the other hand has blown its opponents out! Every one I have talked to (Coaches) believes Crenshaw will beat Carson by 21 points. Calpreps has Crenshaw as a 35-21 favorite. Sondheimer says that Carson is going to need Luck to beat Crenshaw. What I want to know is how in the world did Carson get the number one seed over Crenshaw?

[Shaw Advantage]

Asante has only been a head coach for six years and this is his first Championship game. Garrett has been a coach for 30 years and has at least one 3A Championship and two 4A Championships and a State Championship appearence.

Even though Carson has won 11 Championships they havent won since 2003. Crenshaw has the advantage here and Carson might be like a deer caught in the headlights. None of their present players or head coach has Championship experience.

[Colt Stampede]

@ shaw coug

The game will be decided on field. Articulate analization of both teams is fine and its done every week from high school,college and ESPN comparing NFL games. I agree about posters who degrade the opponent which is not cool! I watch a lot of football and honestly the debate isn't about the Marine League b/c Carson went 5-0 in the Marine league the last two years. There are two teams in the City tgis year who are head and shoulders above the rest and they will square off on Saturday!

[shaw coug]

will u people just let the kids play n may the best team win. venice n crenshaw both proved that the Marine league was not so tough after all. san pedro got spanked by venice who barely lost 2 Carson, narbonne didn't even belong on the field with crenshaw, yet another team who barley lost 2 Carson. the only thing proven was that the marine league was competetive amonst them selves but couldn't handle the better teams outside their league. so what Carson beat MD the 1st game of the season, do i think they could now probably not. both teams want the title, so let the game decide who wins not you peolple who think u know who the better team is. Yes i'm picking Crenshaw but that doesn't mean i have 2 degrade Carson. LET THE KIDS DECIDE!!!!!!!

[JAG]

Wow ! I never knew Carson High could afford to hire a coach to win championships ? I guess Jordan could'nt pay what he's worth.

[MOUTH FOR WAR]

Sorry Carson is not a better team then Norco...You guys barely beat a slow un athletic MD 14-10..A MD team who finished the season 8-5. You barely beat a 5-5 Miller team by 13 points, and a 7-6 SD Linclon team by 8 points...You were blown out by MV 42-21 ^ RSM 56-14...Norco would spank Carson arse any day of the week...we have a week #2 & #3 open...tell your HC to give Norco a call.......

[Irish]

This is going to be a nail biter till the end. Good luck to both teams and may the best team win that day.

[caligriddude]

Why would anyone think Crenshaw has that much more speed than Carson? Yes, DeAnthony is probably Olympic caliber and some of those other guys can fly; but, have you seen Willis, Myles Johnson, the receivers, LB's and DB's, etc? These dudes aren't slow man.....they can step! The big thing in this game is the obvious: Can Carson stop DeAnthony? This is up to the Carson coaches (with their scheme) and the players quickness and toughness. Other key areas are: Whether the Carson o-line is good enough to play with the Crenshaw D-line and whether the Crenshaw DB's can hang with Rogers, Bennett, and Langdon, and whether the Crenshaw LB's can hang with the big TE ......Bierria....he gets better every week. This is NOT David vs. Goliath people - this is two very good teams, both on an upswing going into this game, who have some real top-notch talent. The kicking game could decide this one.......

[Colt Stampede]

When the crowd sees a stampede of Colts hit the field Saturday all the speculation will end! If the Championship doesn't draw at least 10,000 in the Coliseum I'll be suprised!

[310]

The only thing I hate about Crenshaw is how it's best player is nicknamed "Black Mamba" How original? Can't you come up with some other name?

I'm going out on a limb to pick Carson. Talent does not always win championships. If that were the case then De La Salle would not have had that streak or beaten Crenshaw last year.

[Crenshaw '85]

@Colt Pride Speed Kills!

[Colt Pride]

Crenshaw beat Dorsey and Venice but Carson beat Mater Dei and Taft which is more impressive! Crenshaw lost to Norco which should give the Cougars great concern because Carson is a much better team than Norco. It doesnt help Crenshaw that they are favored to win 35-21 by calpreps which also favored Mater Dei and Taft to beat Carson and was obviously wrong since Carson won both games. Asante and the Colts will not be denied!

[Crenshaw Cougars]

This is Crenshaw all day, but I have to admit I love the attitude of Carson Head Coach Asante. He is the definition of competition! However, Carson does not have an answer for the team speed of Crenshaw.