Football: This year’s Cinderella team is Culver City

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Everyone seems to be waiting for Culver City to start playing like the team that was supposed to lose to No. 1 seed Gardena Serra in its playoff opener. . Instead, the Centaurs are one win away from an improbable Western Division title. They are 10-3 and face No. 2-seeded Arroyo Grande on Friday night.

The hottest of the Culver City players is senior quarterback Lukas O’Connor. He passed for 415 yards and six touchdowns against Righetti in the quarterfinals and completed 21 of 29 for 324 yards and three touchdowns against Santa Monica in the semifinals.

‘He’s been a pleasant surprise,’ Coach Jahmal Wright said. ‘He’s been tearing it up. We’re riding the wave. It’s awesome to hit your stride at the right time.’

The 6-foot-3 O’Connor started one game last season. He has finally started to blossom.

‘The offensive line has been amazing,’ O’Connor said. ‘And the receivers have been finding the open lanes. Everybody knows we’re the underdog. That’s fine. There’s no point in being afraid of anybody. We trust we can beat any team.’

-- Eric Sondheimer