The Culver City High School football team will hit the road on Friday and travel north to the Santa Barbara area to play Dos Pueblos in the first round of the CIF playoffs.
Kickoff is 7:30 for the matchup between Culver City’s defense and the rushing attack of Dos Pueblos, led by 5-11, 210-pound senior Anthony Spiritosanto.
“We will try to make another long run into the playoffs lithe way we did last year,” said Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright after the Centaurs defeated Beverly Hills 41 to 0 last Friday. “We are clicking on all cylinders now. We have won two games in a row. I like our chances in the playoffs. I think we are a tough first round opponent for any team.”
The Centaurs have to play on the road because they placed third in the Ocean League, behind first place Santa Monica and second place Inglewood. “We have to focus on playing mistake-free football,” said Wright.
“Our defense has played well all season. We just need our offense to step up and make big plays. We have to be able to run the ball and pass the ball. We have to get the ball to our big-play players to give them an opportunity to make plays in space. That’s Culver City football.”
A lot of Culver City’s success in the playoffs will depend on 6-1, 200 pound senior quarterback Xan Cuevas. If Cuevas plays well, the Centaurs have should beat the Chargers. “We will practice hard this week and try to make a run deep into the playoffs like we did last year,” said Cuevas. “Turnovers have been the problem for the offense the whole year. We still have something to prove. The offense needs to play like we did at the beginning of the year.
“I felt a lot of pressure in the beginning,” said Cuevas, a transfer from Mira Costa. “But the coaches and the players have treated me like family. That made me feel good. I have only known my teammates for six months, and they are like brothers to me. I love my teammates.”
Offensive coordinator Aki Wilson is looking for a breakout game for the second half of the season. “It’s good we have a little momentum going into the playoffs,” said Wilson. “But we need to get more confident and feel a little better about ourselves on offense. The way the defense is playing, we should be able to compete against any team in the playoffs.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
