The Culver City Panthers sixth grade flag football team continued its dominance of the Sixth Grade Fiya League on Friday with a 44-6 victory over visiting WISH 3.
The undefeated Panthers, 4-0 in the sixth grade league, host Vista on Friday at 4 in the sixth grade league. The Panthers host WISH in the seventh/eighth grade league on Tuesday at 5. Both games are at Culver City Middle School.
The Panthers jumped on the scoreboard on the first play of the game. David Lee scampered 55 yards on a reverse for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
The Panthers shut down WISH on its first drive, taking over on their own 21 yard line.
Running back Emmanuel Shaw ran for 38 yards on the first play of the second drive. Royce Williams sprinted 21 yards for a touchdown on the next play. The Culver City rout was on.
Quarterback William Schultz connected with guard Abel Abebe for the two-point conversion, increasing the Panther lead to 14-0.
After a Leo Matsuoka interception on an errant WISH pass, Schultz hit fullback Thomas Chee with a pass for a 12-yard touchdown. Schultz then ran five yards on a keeper on the two-point conversion, for a 22-0 halftime lead.
The second half started just like the first half ended for the Panthers. Running back Brandon Zeidman took the Panthers from their own 25 to the WISH 5-yard- line. Williams took a pitch from Schultz and ran untouched into the end zone for his second score.
Braylen Harrell took a Schultz handoff and maneuvered his way into the end zone, completing the two-point conversion to grow the Panther lead to 30-0.
WISH found the end zone on the next drive for 30-6.
Culver City wasn’t done scoring. Eddie Placido took an Elijah Adams handoff and sprinted for a 49-yard touchdown run. Matsuoka converted the two-pointer on a quarterback keeper for 38-6.
On the final WISH possession Culver City cornerback Rachel Martin intercepted a WISH pass, giving Culver City the ball at their own 33 yard line. On the next play, quarterback Ocean Pagroel found a wide open Martin for a 47-yard touchdown.
Culver City scored touchdowns on each of its seven possessions, and the defense continued to dominate. The Panthers offensive line, including John Kim, Miro Garrett, and in the second half, Dennis Gibson and Jack Ralls, opened gaping holes. Defensively, Alba Navas and Mia McKinley shined, pressuring the WISH quarterback throughout the game.
Mr. Zeidman may be contacted at scott.zeidman@laslots.com