By Bill Seals
Sports Reporter
The Culver City High School Centaurs football team had to travel far but earned a hard fought 38-28 victory over the Ayala High School Bulldogs, in a first round CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoff game last Friday. The game was played at the Yates Field Stadium in Chino Hills, an inland empire city about 50 miles from Culver City.
The Centaurs never trailed in the game, but the game was close throughout. The Centaurs scored first to take a 7-0 lead on a two-yard touchdown run which was set up on a catch-and run of 54 yards by wide receiver Myles Singleton.
The Bulldogs tied the score at 7-7 with a touchdown of their own and that is the way the first quarter ended. The score was tied at 14-14 midway through the second quarter.
It seemed that the Centaurs might break the game open when they took a 28-14 lead with 3:42 remaining in the second quarter on a 51-yard touchdown run by running back Pierce Reynoso, who took off around the right end, broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and went untouched to the end zone.
But the Bulldogs were not done before halftime, scoring on a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Maximus Barroso to wide receiver Drew Amico with just 16.8 seconds remaining in the second quarter. That made the score 28-21 at halftime. The second half started with an onside kick recovery by the Bulldogs, which gave the Bulldogs the extra possession they needed to tie the score at 28-28.
From that point on in the game, the Centaurs took control of the game defensively, shutting out the Bulldogs for the rest of the game, and took the lead for good with a field goal of 27 yards from Henry Brownlow with 1:58 left in the third quarter. They added a fourth quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Sammy Silvia to Singleton to close out the scoring.
It was a great game,” said Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright. “We played a quality opponent that was ranked No. 3 in Division 4. It was a battle back and forth until Henry gave us the lead with his field goal and he was five for five making his extra points and he also made a game saving tackle on a kickoff return after we went up by three points. Henry ran the player down. That play was huge for us. His overall kicking game was outstanding.”
Wright was also pleased with the play of his quarterback, Silvia, running back Reynoso and receiver Singleton. Silvia completed 23 of 28 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns. “Sammy played his best game of the year,” said Wright. “It was a great team win.”
Reynoso carried the ball 17 times for 163 yards and one touchdown and Singleton caught 10 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored on a run play. On defense linebacker J.R. Kirkwood had 17 tackles, linebacker Reynoso had 10 tackles and defensive back Braylon Singleton had nine tackles, one interception and he also caught three passes for 77 yards. Myles Singleton also had a key interception.
Now the 8-3 Culver City Centaurs will take on the 8-3 Capistrano Valley Cougars of Mission Viejo. The Cougars defeated Downey 37-34 in the first round. This CIF quarterfinal game will be a home contest for the Centaurs and will be played at Jerry Chabola Stadium starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 10th.
The Cougars are led by linebacker Jackson Sievers, a UC Davis commit, and quarterback Tommy Acosta, a dual threat quarterback who leads the Cougars in rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns.
Coach Wright talked about the challenge that Capistrano Valley presents. “They are a tough team that played in a real tough league,” Wright said. “They play some good football in the South Coast league. It’s a really good Orange County league with teams like San Clemente, Mission Veijo and Tesoro. Those are very good teams. Capistrano Valley is battled tested, and they are well coached.”
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Brownlow kicks his way into CCHS gridl history
By Steve Finley
Sports Editor
It takes a special person to be a football kicker. Every game the pressure grows with every possession. The kicker and the holder are on an island all by themselves. From high school, college and the pros the kickers are expected to make field goals, extra points and in high school the kicker is also the punter most of the time.
What makes Culver City high school’s kicker and punter, Henry Brownlow so special is he is not only a great athlete, but he has taken his kicking game to another level through hard work, good coaching and a mind set that separates him for the average high school kicker.
“Kicking is such a specialized component of football,” said Brownlow after a recent game. “You really have to learn and discover it. I have kind of built myself up by watching You Tube and working with kicking coaches.” Brownlow was forced to rely on other coaches and kicking camps because his Culver City high school kicking coach, Greg Goodyear passed away a few years ago.
“I break down a lot of film,” said Brownlow. “I watch a lot of special team plays. How do they rush the kicker. You need to know the distance, who is returning the kick, do I need to put extra distance on the kick. I am a student of the kicking game.”
When a kicker makes a field goal or a winning field goal, he is a hero. If he misses the burden is heavy. “It’s euphoria when you can make a winning kick. It’s great to have that feeling that you made it and that you can make a difference.”
After every game this season Culver City’s head football coach Jahmal Wright always has something good to say about Brownlow. “Henry is clutch for us in every game. He is such a great senior leader. He comes through for us whenever we need him to. He is always calm, cool and collective and that’s what we need from him. He is money when he is out there, and his character is off the charts. He probably has the best character on the team. He is such a team guy, and his family is awesome too.”
Brownlow, who is also a star volleyball player for the Centaurs has turned into a player, coach, mentor and recruiter. This year he has recruited several kickers to play football for the Centaurs.
In the CIF playoff game last Friday against Ayala, Brownlow made a long field goal, made all five of his extra-point kicks and made a game saving tackle on a kickoff to help the Centaurs win, 38-28. On Friday at Culver City at 7 p.m. his talents will be on display against Capistrano Valley in the CIF quarterfinals.
At 6’4 and 170 pounds and combine his size with great athletic ability and his intellect, it makes Brownlow a perfect candidate to move on to the next level as a college kicker or college kicking coach.
