Football: Narbonne’s defense stifles Serra, 22-9

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Harbor City Narbonne forced four turnovers and held Gardena Serra’s high-octane offense to only one touchdown in a 22-9 intersectional victory Friday night.

The Gauchos, ranked #4 by The Times, moved to 4-0 while host Serra dropped to 4-1.

‘Turnovers were the difference in this game,’ Narbonne Coach Manuel Douglas said. ‘The defense is the strength of our team and they showed it again today.’

Keishawn Bierria returned a fumble 54 yards for a touchdown, fellow linebacker Marquis Lomax had two pass interceptions and the Gauchos also recovered a fumble at their own 2-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

It was a quiet night for the Narbonne offense. Quarterback Troy Williams threw a touchdown pass in the first quarter and Tony Gates scored on a four-yard run to give the Gauchos a 13-7 halftime lead. Ceasar Moniteil kicked a 27-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter.

Narbonne saw one extra point try bounce off the goalpost and had another blocked, but thanks to the Gauchos’ stout defense the missed kicks hardly mattered.

-- Steve Galluzzo