Passing league tournaments are similar to flag football games except some flag football games there is blocking at the line of scrimmage. In passing league games and flag football games players do not wear a full football uniform, only jerseys, shorts and football cleats. In high school passing tournaments there is no blocking. That means the quarterback has to make quick decisions and hit the open receiver. Culver City’s quarterback, Nicholas Hoang was able to make the right choices this summer.
Hoang, a junior, was the main quarterback throwing passes this summer but there were also some younger quarterbacks that saw action, but the No. 1 player in the quarterback room this summer was Hoang. Under their leadership the Culver City High School Centaurs went 16-3 in three passing tournaments this summer. “Nicholas looked awesome,” said head coach Jahmal Wright last Sunday in a telephone interview. “He has a really good command of the offense, and he looked poised. He is the engine that’s driving the car right now.”
When it comes to driving a car, the vehicle must have good wheels and tires and those are the receivers on a football team. This coming season, in 2025, it will be the first time in many years that the Centaurs are not loaded at the receiver position. “Right now, the receiver situation is a work in progress, but senior William Fourte has really emerged as the senior leader,” said Wright. “He is doing a good job at steadying our young group of receivers. He is also really developing a lot of chemistry with Nicholas.”
A lot can change between now and the start of fall camp when players will be in full football gear. “Answers to who will get a lot of playing time will be determined in fall camp,” said Wright. “The players have to prove themselves. The coaching staff is optimistic, but we definitely know that there is a lot of work to be done.
“We accomplished what we wanted to do in the passing tournaments,” said Wright. “We put our team in a competitive environment. We were able to measure ourselves against other schools, so I think the 7-on-7 passing tournaments served its’ purpose.”
Wright said the coaching staff tries to keep passing league games in perspective. “Passing league games are really like practices because there is no offensive and defensive line so it’s a good way for us to practice without going against ourselves.”
The 2025 Centaurs have some key players to replace so it should be interesting to see who steps up and fills some big shoes. “We pride ourselves in having a good foundation,” said Wright. “We pride ourselves in coaching our players up to be the best they can be and hopefully that will help us be successful. It’s always up to the student athlete to go out there and perform, but the coaching staff is confident that the players will get the job done.”
They open the season against City Section Division 1 champion King Drew High School on the road at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28.
