Culver wants quick start in opener on new field

Seeking to avenge its first season

opening loss since 2003, Culver

City High School will greet the

West Torrance Warriors, Friday

(Sept. 6) at7 p.m. at the new Centaur

Stadium following last year’s

numbing 30-25 setback at West

Torrance High School.

Grand opening ceremonies for

the new stadium with parades,

presentations, salute to athletes

and Culver City notables begin at

5:30 p.m.

“We’re excited to open the season

versus a formidable opponent

in a playoff atmosphere,” Centaur

Coach Jahmal Wright said. I have

a lot of respect for West coach

Greg Holt, and he will have his

team ready.”

“West is well coached, disciplined,

experienced, tough, and

hard-nosed,” said Wright.

Prone to slow starts last season,

the Centaurs trailed 14-0 in

the first quarter and 24-13 entering

the fourth quarter in last year’s

opener against the Warriors.

Culver City took the lead 25-24

following an 80-yard punt return

for a touchdown by Julius Wilson

and a 59-yard scoring drive with

3:05 remaining. Three plays later

the Warriors scored the go-ahead

touchdown after a long kickoff

return to win the game.

West Torrance went on to

reach the CIF finals.

Although West lost several of

its star players, the Warriors have

a strong contingent of outstanding

seniors coming back, prompting

West coach Greg Holt, who enters

his 20th season, to consider “This

is one of the better West teams

I’ve had.”

New senior quarterback Zach

Heeger, shifty junior running back

Brett Ojiyi, tall receivers Dane Silverlake

and Division 1 prospect

Craig Knaus will have big seasons,

said the West coaches.

The Warriors boast two big

athletic linemen with the potential

to be dominant in Ray Lima, 6’3,”

250 pounds and J.J. Allen who

stands at 6’3,” 250 pounds.

Reacting to his squad’s sluggish

play early in games last year,

Wright said, “Our plan this year

is to have success early and call

plays that we’re comfortable with

to develop an early rhythm.”

The new turf field and large

contingent of Centaur fans in the

season opener will inspire the

Centaurs’ defense.

“Many of our passing leagues

this summer were played on artificial

turf,” Wright said. “We prefer

turf, because we have a lot

of speed and it accentuates the

speeds.”

Fox Sports West (foxsportswest.

com) will broadcast the

game live on Prep Zone, and

archived on the internet.

Norman is a returning All-

League, All-CIF and was a first

team All-State selection as a

sophomore.

“With Stanley going into his

second year in our defensive

scheme, we will depend on him to

continuously make big plays for

us and shut down his half of the

field,” Wright said.