The 3-0 Culver City High School football will travel to the city of Downey to battle the Warren Bears for the fourth time in the last six years. The kickoff is set for Friday at 7 p.m.
The Bears are 2-1 against the Centaurs since 2019. This will be the first time during that time span that Culver City will not have to face one of the Iameleava brothers. The older brother, Nico is playing college football and the younger brother, Madden transferred to Long Beach Poly.
Without one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, Warren started the season 0-4. “We are still playing a very good football team,” said Culver City head football coach Jahmal Wright in a telephone interview last Monday. “Their defense is probably the best defense we have seen this season. They don’t have weak players on defense. They are really aggressive and athletic, and they tackle well. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”
Long time Culver City assistant coach and former Centaur head coach Cornell Myles knows records can be deceiving. “They haven’t tasted victory this season so they will be hungry. They are a good football team, and they have some fast players that can make plays.”
Warren is having difficulties on offense according to Wright. “The main thing is they are having problems scoring points so we are hoping to make it a high scoring game and we think that will help us win the football game.”
The Centaurs have the offensive weapons to light up the score board. Leading the way is quarterback Seth Shigg and receivers Myles Singleton and his brother Braylon Singleton. Football is a team game, but these three players make a big difference when they get their hands on the ball.
Shigg has passed for 730 yards and eight touchdowns in three games, and he has rushed for 226 yards and five touchdowns. Myles Singleton has caught 13 passes for 321 yards for three touchdowns in three games and Braylon Singleton caught eight passes for 253 yards and five touchdowns in three games.
Shigg can beat you with his arm or legs and that is what makes him a dual threat. “He definitely adds a different dimension to our offense and for sure he is one of the best athletes in Southern California,” said Wright. “He along with the other weapons on offense makes it hard for other teams to prepare for us.”
Traditionally Warren has been a difficult place to win football games like the majority of high school football stadiums. “We just hope that we can prepare our team so they we be able to just focus on the task at hand,” said Wright. “We want to make sure everyone focuses on doing their job and not succumb to the hostile environment.”
If the defense can continue to play like they did against Salesian high school last Friday, the Centaurs should come away with a victory. They beat Salesian 37-7. The defense is led by inside linebacker, 6’3, 230-pound Jordan Njoku. In the first three games Njoku made 46 tackles. Coach Myles said linebacker Dae’lon Moutra had a break out game against Salesian along with the defensive line and the defensive back field.
The kicking came is also playing well led by Hudson King and Nathan Garcia. Last years’ kicker Henry Brownlow worked with Garcia and King after kicking coach Greg Goodyear passed away. Brownlow’s tutoring has paid off.
“I thought the Salesian game showed who we are as far as talent wise, but we are still trying to find our identity,” said coach Myles.