High school football: Crenshaw ends debate with Oaks Christian, Narbonne continues to roll against Serra, plus last week 4 scores and week 5 schedule

Tony Gates and his Narbonne teammates have reason to celebrate after knocking off another Southern Section team when they defeated Serra 22-9, but it is back to work as they host Mater Dei on Friday night.  Photo by Ken Brooks

Crenshaw ends debate with Oaks Christian, Narbonne continues to roll against Serra  

Crenshaw proved a number of things this past Friday night when the traveled to Oaks Christian.  With only about 30 players, they proved that they are one of the toughest bunches around.  They proved that the City Section, with all of the limitations that they deal with, can beat the top Southern Section schools.  Even the private schools that have every advantage possible, including NFL Hall of Famers on their coaching staff.   

And the biggest thing they proved: Crenshaw > Oaks Christian.   

Crenshaw’s 2009 team was selected to play in the State Bowl ahead of Oaks Christian.  Those teams could not settle it on the field, so the debate raged.  Well all of those players are gone, but the two programs are still among the best in Southern California.

These two teams finally met, and Crenshaw’s defense dominated Oaks Christian in  13-2 victory, not allowing any points while forcing five turnovers.  Year in, year out, Oaks Christian has one of the best offenses in the state, but against Crenshaw, they were held without a touchdown for the first time in school history.  Before Friday night, Oaks Christian had scored 35 or more points in all of their games this season.

Crenshaw’s Mossi Johnson and Dominique Hatfield had two interceptions each, and Crenshaw’s defensive line brought pressure to Oaks Christian’s quarterback and running backs all night long.   

Crenshaw improves to 4-1, and the only thing keeping them out of the State Bowl conversation right now is a last second loss at Westlake.  If they can run the table, winning the City title, and that would probably include a victory over Narbonne, then they would have a very good argument that they should go.   

As it stands right now, they may be the only team that can compete with Narbonne, and that potential mega match up would not happen until the City Championship Game.  

Narbonne has been world-beaters so far this year, and they continued to wreck havoc on some of the best that the Southern Section has to offer by man handling Serra in a 22-9 victory.

This Serra team was no slouch.  They entered the game with a 4-0 record, with wins over Long Beach Poly and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.  But not that many people thought that they would beat the defending City Section champions.   

Narbonne routed Long Beach Poly and Lakewood before their match up with Serra, giving up only six points in three games this season.  Well defense was the difference for Narbonne, as they forced four Serra turnovers, one returned for a 50-yard touchdown off of a fumble recovery.

Narbonne linebacker Marquis Lomax intercepted two passes, and Kieshawn Bierria returned the fumble for a touchdown after Kwentin Polk stripped it from a Serra ball carrier.  Bierria also recovered one other fumble in the game.   

Narbonne’s schedule does not lighten up one bit, as they host Mater Dei on Friday night.  This game is so huge that if they moved it to Saturday night, they could probably attract 20-30,000 people.  This is probably the biggest game in Southern California this year.  Fans should not worry if they cannot make it to the game, because Time Warner has decided to broadcast it.  Check local listings.   

If Narbonne wins, then the only team standing in their way of a State Bowl appearance is most likely Crenshaw, if the two meet in the City Championship Game.     

Last week’s results

Crenshaw 13, Oaks Christian 2

Culver City 51, West Adams 0

Alemany 45, Dorsey 0

Narbonne 22, Gardena Serra 9

South East 68, Los Angeles Jordan 6

Corona Centennial 45, Carson 24

Gardena 22, University 6

Jefferson 51, Locke 32

Lincoln 55, Manual Arts 26

Los Angeles 22, Animo South Los Angeles 20

Palisades 20, Granada Hills 12

San Pedro 29, Fairfax 0

Inglewood 54, Hamilton 7

La Salle 47, Westchester 30

View Park 26, Torres 7

Washington 16, Fremont 14

Lakewood 45, Long Beach Wilson 19

Long Beach Cabrillo 22, Long Beach Jordan 19 (OT)

Long Beach Poly 61, Compton 0

Cathedral 53, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 14

Lawndale 34, Peninsula 31 (OT)

Morningside 20, Compton Centennial 6

Torrance 26, Leuzinger 7

Los Alamitos 48, Lynwood 7

Bosco Tech 28, Verbum Dei 7

This week’s schedule

All games are Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted

Dorsey at Venice

Mater Dei at Narbonne

Hamilton at Fremont

University at Franklin

Wilson at Fairfax

Vista Murrieta at Palisades

Rancho Dominguez at Gardena

San Pedro at Westchester

Washington at West Adams

Los Angeles Jordan at Bell

Mary Star vs. Verbum Dei at Southwest College

Lakewood at Compton

Long Beach Cabrillo at Millikan

Long Beach Poly at Long Beach Jordan

Centennial at Serrano

Culver City at Bishop Amat

Dominguez at Palos Verdes, 3 p.m.

Inglewood vs. Torrance at Zamperini Stadium

Leuzinger at Hawthorne

Loyola at Valencia

Mountain View vs. Lynwood at Lynwood MS

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