Culver City plays one for the ages against Palos Verdes

 

In one of the most exhilarating games in Culver City football history, the Centaurs edged the Palos Verdes Sea Kings 55-52 in double overtime in front of a large crowd last Friday night at Culver City.

“I feel good,” said an exhausted Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright after the win over Palos Verdes. “It was a team victory. Everybody had a piece in it. We had to fight through so much adversity. We were down 21-0 and 28-7. I am so proud of Zevi (Eckhaus), Chris (Miller) and the offensive line and the defense got timely stops in overtime.”

The defense stopped the Sea Kings when they had to. “We definitely have some holes in the defense,” said Wright. “I don’t ever want to give up over 50 points but you have to play the game and that is what the defense did. They got the stops when we needed it. They met the challenge”

Once again the offense, led by quarterback Zevi Eckhaus and receiver Chris Miller was spectacular. Eckhaus completed 36 out of 53 passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns and Miller caught 19 of those passes for 325 yards and six touchdowns. Eckhaus scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime on an eight-yard run up the middle.

“We talked to Zevi in the offseason about not being a one-dimensional package,” said Wright.  “Everyone is saying he is underrated. He has a 3.5-grade point average, he is a CIF champion and the way he is throwing the ball around I think he is the best quarterback in California.”

“Most of all I want to thank God and I want to give credit to my coaches and the offensive line,’ said Eckhaus outside the locker room that was full of Centaur players who were singing and dancing. “I can’t take all of the credit. My teammates were there for me.  It feels good but I am trying to get better every day. We have a lot to prove.  We want to go deep into November.”

As a receiver, Miller is setting records every time he steps out on the field. He combines speed, precision route running and great hands which makes him unstoppable so far this year.  “They know we are going to throw him the ball and they can’t stop him,” said Wright.

“I feel on top of the world,” said Miller after his performance last Friday against Palos Verdes. “My quarterback was amazing but I have to give praise to God for allowing me to score touchdowns and catch passes but I can get better. You are never perfect.”

Miler is part of a group of outstanding Centaur receivers coached by former Culver City football star Michael Hooper. Hooper was a three-year varsity starter at defensive back and receiver. He went on to play for San Jose State.

“We don’t call ourselves receivers,” said Hooper after the win over the Sea Kings. “We call ourselves wideouts. We try to live it. It is a lifestyle. Anybody can play receiver but to come to Culver City and play wideout is different. You have to put in the work. Our wideouts have grit and passion and they have goals after that everything falls into place.”

One of the happiest people inside the Jerry Chabola Stadium last Friday night was long-time Culver City football coach Cornell Myles. Myles has seen a lot of Culver City football games over the past 21 years but the game against Palos Verdes was special.

“I knew this game was going to be like this,” said a smiling Myles. “I knew it was going to go back and forth because they have a good running attack but I did not think it was going to go down to double overtime. I knew we had a potent offense but this game showed me we are for real.”

Myles continued to say, “I am proud of this team and I am proud of coach Wright. We all stuck together in the end. All we needed was a little daylight to score the winning points in overtime. This was a character builder.”

The Centaurs will go back on the road the next two weeks when they play Dorsey on Friday and Santa Monica on October 4. Both games will start at 7 p.m.