It’s hard to gauge a team’s
performance after one game,
but after watching Culver City’s
second half collapse it is apparent
that the team has questions
to answer.
The Centaurs better solve
their problems fast, as they
travel to Palos Verdes, Friday,
3 p.m., in a non-conference
match-up. Peninsula blanked
North Torrance 51-0, last week.
“We’re going to be better
in the long run by taking our
lumps now,” Centaurs coach
Jahmal Wright said.
It was supposed to be the
start of a new beginning for
the young Centaurs, who were
unveiling their brand new track
and field to the local community,
but the results were far
from expected in the 36-15 loss
to West Torrance last Friday
during the season opener.
Running back Brett Ojiyi
ripped through the Centaur
defense rushing for 200 yards
and four touchdowns on 28
carries. West Torrance ran off
29 straight points after falling
behind 15-7 on a Stanley Norman
49-yard touchdown pass
from David Handler, and a Norman
97-yard fumble recovery
two drives later.
Defensively, the Centaurs
were able to force the opposition
into three-and-outs, but after the
two early scores the team was
unable to move the ball and set
up the Warriors to go into their
no-huddle, spread offense.
“I thought we played some
good defense early on,” Wright
said “We got a little tired because
we had a hard time moving the
ball offensively.”
The fatigue started to show
as the Centaurs trailed the
Warriors 22-15 heading into
halftime.
The offense continued to
stall as Handler couldn’t move
the ball, getting his throws batted
down at the line of scrimmage.
He missed opportunities
to score, overthrowing a wide
open Brandon Hassan that
would have given Culver a 22-15
lead late in the second quarter.
“We had some stuff open,”
Wright said. “We just couldn’t
hit it.”
Combined with their no huddle
offense and Ojiyi’s groundand-
pound, the Warriors were
slowly starting to fatigue the
young Centaurs.
After a couple of series, Culver
City switched quarterbacks
and went with sophomore
Armani Rodgers, who converted
third downs and moved
the offense with ease. Wright
said they will evaluate the quarterback
position and make the
appropriate decision that’s best
for the team.
“It seemed like things were
moving a little better with
Armani in,” Wright stated
“That’s something well evaluate
in the film room, look at the
plays, and make a decision on
what’s best for our team.”