Culver City’s varsity football team tasted victory for the first time this season when they ran passed Hawthorne 36-10 last Friday night at Hawthorne. The Centaurs are now 1-8 and 1-3 in the Ocean League and dancing on the football field. On Friday they play their last game of the season when they travel to Beverly Hills for a 7 p.m. kick off.
The game against Beverly Hills is very important; if they win they finish fourth in league play with a record of 2-3. If they lose, the team will fall into a last-place tie with Beverly Hills and Hawthorne. Hawthorne is 3-6 overall and 1-3 in league play. Hawthorne’s final game is against a very good Lawndale team. Beverly Hills is 1-8 and 0-4.
What a difference one win can make. Culver City players were dancing on the field after their win at Hawthorne.
“I am proud of this team,” Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright said after the win over Hawthorne. “Everybody is still working hard and that’s a testament of character of this team.”
The Centaurs offensive line played their best game of the season as they pushed back Hawthorne’s defense from the opening drive to the final drive. Guards Richard Yoshida and Diego Sandoval, tackles Fred Wadibia and Thomas Hernandez and center Danny Diaz dominated the game.
“The offensive line did a great job,” offensive coordinator Aki Wilson said. “Our starting center Alfredo Mendoza was hurt so we brought up Diaz from the junior varsity team and he did not skip a beat. The line told me to keep running the ball. They opened up a lot of holes for the running backs.”
Culver City running backs, seniors Donovan Davis and Anthony Polk, juniors Fred Poindexter and Kahlil Hooper gained more than 350 yards. Davis led the way with 122 yards, Polk had 114, Poindexter had 64 and Hooper ran for 55 yards.
“It feels so great to get a win,” Polk said. “I have been waiting for this feeling for a long time but the first thing I want to do is give praise to the offensive line. I give them all of the credit for great blocking tonight. It’s sad that the season and my career is coming to an end but I knew this would happen one day.”
Centaur assistant coach Jarvis Redwine, who works with the running backs, was also pleased with the victory.
“A win is always a good thing especially when it’s the first one of season,” said Rewine. “The coaching staff did a good job scouting Hawthorne.”
Another assistant coach, Cornell Myles, thinks adversity builds character after the team started the season 0-8.
“I feel good for the players,” said Myles. “They can go to school with their heads up high for the first time this year. Now we can close out the season with two victories and get ready for next year. Anything we can do that will help motivate the players, the coaching staff will be glad to do. This game tonight was the sign of the times. We are at the end of the season. This is the last chance to make something positive out of the season. We have to lay it all on the line against Beverly Hills. If will end strong we will start next year. The seniors will learn from this season. They will find out that in life you have to keep fighting to survive just like we did this season.”
“We have to score points,” Polk said. “That’s the bottom line. Our defense is doing a good job but we are on the field to long. The offense needs to step up and make plays.”
