The Culver City High School football team achieved a milestone in its final regular season game last Friday night, defeating crosstown rival Beverly Hills, 31-21, at Beverly.
The victory gave the Centaurs a 10-0 regular season record, a first in the 50-plus year school history.
Ranked No. 1 in the Western Conference, perfect Culver City opens the CIF playoffs at home on Friday night at 7:30 against Leuzinger of the Bay League, which finished with a 6-4 record.
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Jahmal Wright getting "Gatoraded" by the players.
Photo: George Laase
Culver City’s Turn
One week after defeating winless Hawthorne, 50-13, to clinch a tie for the Ocean League championship, Culver won the league outright, ending Beverly’s two-year run.
The Centaurs and Normans came into the last game before the CIF playoffs tied for first place in the Ocean League at 3-1, even though their overall records were very different. Beverly was a .500 team, 4-4-1.
The two teams had played to ties the last two years, 13-13 and 56-56.
Culver City and Beverly Hills played an exciting first half in which saw the Centaurs jump out to an early lead. The second time they had the ball, the Centaurs drove 92 yards in just six plays as Lowell Rose ran 14 yards for the first score.
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Culver lineman Matt Rezzato (75,white jersey) forces a Beverly Hills fumble.
Photo: George Laase
Momentum for Centaurs
On the kickoff return, Culver’s Charles Jefferson stripped the runner of the ball and Imran Whitmore recovered the fumble to give the Centaurs excellent field position near midfield, on their 48-yard line.
Culver wasted little time taking advantage of the turnover. Senior quarterback Darius Banks connected with Zach Davis on a 12-yard pass play to increase the Centaurs lead to 14-0.
Beverly Hills responded with a long scoring drive, utilizing its very strong running attack. Fullback David Saedi (9 rushes, 39 yards), who ran for two of Beverly High’s three touchdowns, scored the first one from from one yard out to cut Culver’s lead, 14-7.
Getting Even
The Normans created and capitalized on a large break on Culver City’s next possession.
Penalties forced the Centaurs back deep into their own end. Banks attempted to punt from his own 10 yard line. However, Beverly Hills broke through the line and forced Banks to scramble. He was tackled at the Culver 16-yard line, giving Beverly Hills excellent field position.
Beverly struck just over a minute later when Saedi scored his second touchdown. Tying the score at 14.
Culver City used most of the final four minutes of the first half to regain the lead.
The Centaurs drove 75 yards on 12 plays, culminating on a Banks 1-yard run. He stretched to get the ball to break the plane of the goal line, and Culver took a 21-14 lead.
Beverly had an opportunity to draw closer, but missed a 30-yard field goal attempt just before halftime.
Similar to Last Year
The first half was somewhat reminiscent of last year’s contest when the two teams played one of the most exciting high school games in history, on their way to 112 evenly divided points.
In the second half, both teams had players suffering from cramps due to the new hard turf that Beverly Hills had installed last year.
Tailbacks from both teams seemed to have similar cramping issues, and the defenses Took control of the game.
Beverly Hills caught up with Culver City about eight minutes into the second half. Ramon Judkins, the Normans’ leading rusher, ran five yards for a touchdown that was the only score in the third quarter.
Regaining Control for Keeps
With the game even at 21-21, Culver City took the ensuing kickoff and its way down the field before the drive stalled at the Normans’ 9-yard line.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, sophomore Devin Sylvester kicked a 26-yard field goal, which turned out to be the winning margin, as the Centaurs regained the lead 24-21.
Beverly Hills appeared to be headed for another score when Culver senior defensive lineman Matt Rezzato got into the Norman backfield to drastically reverse the momentum.
Changing the Complexion
Rezatto made a huge hit on a Normans’ running back, causing the football to pop loose. Rezzato, despite losing his helmet on the hit, found the football and recovered the fumble.
Just three plays later, Banks threw a screen pass to Jeremi Anderson who broke a couple of tackles and streaked down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown to increase the Centaurs lead to 10 points, 31-21, with 4:39 to play.
The Normans took the kickoff and drove deep into Culver territory.
A Crucial Stop
Facing a fourth down and two at the Centaur 25-yard line, Judkins took the handoff. However, the Centaurs stuffed the line. They stopped the Norman tailback at the 24. one yard short of the first down.
That allowed Culver City to take over and run out the clock.
The Centaur players celebrated by splashing their Offensive Coordinator, Jahmal Wright, with Gatorade as the last seconds ticked off.
A Time to Celebrate
Centaur fans stood and chanted “Ten and Oh! Ten and Oh!” as the Centaurs lined up to receive the Normans' congratulatory handshake.
The team celebrated from the field with the large crowd of Centaur faithful that came to see Culver City history in the making.
Five years ago Culver City came closeto a perfect season. They had a 9-0 record, but were upset by Morningside in the final game of the season.
As Culver prepares for its playoff run, the Centaurs will need to improve their run defense and cut down on penalties if they hope to bring a championship to Culver City for the first time in nearly 30 years (1978).
Statistically Speaking
Senior Lowell Rose, who sat out most of the second half, finished with 12 rushes for 70 yards and one touchdown to lead Culver City.
Quarterback Darius Banks had 18 rushes for 38 yards and one score. He was sacked once for a minus 12 yards. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior receiver Zach Davis had a break out game with four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.
UCLA-bound Antwon Moutra had a quiet game with three catches for 36 yards.
Cayden Feifer had two big catches, both in the first half, that led to a go-ahead score, for 19 yards.
Evan Cunningham had two receptions for 42 yards. Culver City had 124 yards rushing and 234 yards passing for 358 total. They received 11 penalties for 95 yards and, despite losing the ball on a few occasions, and had no turnovers…
Tailback Ramon Judkins of Beverly Hills was the leading rusher of the game with 176 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown.
Quarterback Dex Lucci ran twice for 19 yards and was sacked once for a minus-one yard. He was kept in check by the stingy Centaur defense, completing only 4 of 9 passes for 44 yards. In the second half he was shut down, going 0 for 3.
The Normans had 268 yards rushing and 44 yards passing for a total of 312. They committed three turnovers, all fumbles, and were penalized 10 times for 94 yards…
