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Centaurs’ junior wide receiver Jason Grossman scores on a 47-yard reception against Morningside. Photo, George Laase.
When Culver City High School’s football tean was 1-4 during the pre-season, the faith of many Centaur fans began to evaporate.
Losing to West Torrance, Redondo Beach, Paramount and Bishop Amat, plus the two-game suspensions of seven players seemed to turn the program downhill. What a difference, though, the Ocean League can make.
The 5-4 Centaurs have won all four Ocean League games. If they win on Friday night in a 7 o’clock game at Beverly Hills, they will clinch their first league title since 2009, completing a 5-0 run.
Last Friday night the Centaurs put it all together and came up with a 47-0 win over Morningside (5-4). For the first time this season the offense, defense and special teams gelled at the same time to produce a dominating victory.
“It was a good team win,” said head coach Jahmal Wright. “Everyone was involved. We have a lot of players who work hard every day in practice. It was good to see them get an opportunity to play.”
Led by second-team quarterback David Handler, Culver City made fans forget about dropped passes. Handler completed 11 of 25 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns. A senior replaced the sophomore starter Armani Rogers, injured the week before in the victory over Santa Monica.
“I knew Armani was fighting an injury,” said Handler. “I had to get the job done.”
Handler loss his starting job to Rogers a few weeks ago but continued to stay positive. “I feel really good,” he said after the win over Morningside. Handler took advantage of Culver City’s offensive weapons. “I love playing with this team,” he said after throwing touchdown passes to Stanley Norman, Brandon Hasson, Marcus Moore and Jason Grossman.
The Centaurs need to make sure they don’t look past Beverly Hills. “This team does a good job staying focused,” said Handler. “Our goal is to win the league championship and get ready for the playoffs. Our tough pre-season schedule got us ready for the Ocean League.”
One of Handler’s biggest supporters is offensive coordinator Aki Wilson. “It was great to see David step up and play well,” said Wilson. “He has done everything we have asked. I am proud of him.”
The big question for Culver City is can they continue to score points? “We have to keep getting better each week,” said Wilson. “We are peaking at the right time. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into Beverly Hills and the playoffs.”
The defense has allowed 28 points in four league games while the offense was scoring 107 points.
Although Nico Melendez’s winning overtime field goal against Santa Monica accounted for the season’s most crucial points, Handler’s 47-yard touchdown pass against Morningside to seldom-used junior wide receiver Jason Grossman was the team favorite.
“It makes me feel good to see that one of the touchdown passes went to Jason,” said Wilson. “He comes to practice every day. He never complains. A true team player.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at Sfinley50@aol.com
