After reaching the Conference Championship Finals last year, the Centaurs are hopeful of what the new season could bring. Despite losing several key players to graduation, the Culver City football team put up large scoreboard numbers in a 41-15 win over Bay League contender Peninsula in Culver’s home debut. Culver (1-1) will travel to Redondo Beach to take on the Bay League power Sea Hawks (2-1) Friday evening.
The Centaurs might have had a larger winning margin and scored more points except for its 162 yards of penalties. Several potential touchdowns were nullified, yet the offense was still able to score often. The defense completely shut down Peninsula and did not allow the Panther offense past midfield until the second half.
Culver City rushed for 164 yards and passed for 231 yards, while holding Peninsula to 39 yards on the ground and 125 through the air.
Culver City scored on its first three possessions to take a quick, early lead. Senior Julius Wilson provided the first two scores for the Centaurs. He finished off a long, sustained drive with a one-yard touchdown run and then was on the receiving end of a 48-yard pass from senior quarterback Xan Cuevas, 14-0. Sophomore kicker Anthony Caiseros added a 24-yard field goal when the third drive stalled inside the 10-yard line. Caiseros added another three points, giving the Centaurs a 20-0 lead, with a 32-yarder as field lights failed on the final play of the half.
Peninsula struck back early in the third quarter. Senior defensive back Jordan Gates’ interception of a Centaur pass gave the Panthers excellent field position. Junior quarterback Ian Escutia drove his offense down the field and ran in from a yard out to put Peninsula on the scoreboard.
Culver City answered with a quick strike less than 30 seconds later. Wilson caught a short pass on a slant pattern from Cuevas. Wilson then slipped a couple of tackles, picked up key blocks from the offensive line and other receivers, and broke into the open field in route to an 85-yard touchdown. The Centaurs headed into the final quarter with a comfortable 27-7 lead.
Culver put the game out of reach with two quick scores in the early moments of the fourth quarter. An excellent 40-yard punt return by sophomore Stanley Norman set up the Centaurs at the Panther 18-yard line. One play later, Cuevas found sophomore Donovan Davis on a quick screen and Davis scampered into the end zone. Seconds later, Norman provided an encore with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown and gave Culver City a 41-7 advantage.
Peninsula scored a touchdown with just under two minutes remaining. Senior James Nelson, the Panthers’ leading rusher, went into the end zone with a one-yard run and then provided the two-point conversion. The Panthers were successful on the ensuing onside kick, but were unable to sustain the drive before time expired.
“We executed well. Our defense locked down. Our offensive line was powerful,” said Akili Skannal who had 13 rushes for 89 yards.
Cuevas rushed for 51 yards (all in the first half), and completed 9 of 21 passes for 224 yard, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
