Football: Hawkins rests while others in Coliseum League prepare

It’s one of the great mysteries that will be soon resolved. Is it better to play tough teams and possibly lose in the preseason or play weak teams and win big in preparation for league?

Hawkins is 5-0 and would appear to be the favorite in the Coliseum League despite a schedule that has been anything but challenging considering how many college-recruited players the Hawks have.

In fact, Hawkins will have not played any games since Sept. 16 (a three-week off period) when they face another struggling opponent, Locke, in their league opener on Oct. 7. Then comes three consecutive challenging games _ at Dorsey on Oct. 13, home against Los Angeles on Oct. 21 and at Crenshaw on Oct. 28.

Hawkins picked up a forfeit win over Western Christian last week and has a bye this week. Sierra Canyon asked to play Hawkins last week but the answer was no. Cathedral and Narbonne tried to play Hawkins this season. The answer was no.

Maybe the Hawks don’t think they have the depth to play tough opponents on a weekly basis, but the other top teams in the Coliseum League have been doing just that.

Dorsey has played Gardena Serra and St. Francis and lost. Crenshaw has played Mission Hills and Vista Murrieta and lost. Los Angeles plays Narbonne this week.

The best win for Hawkins was against Chula Vista Mater Dei, 51-42. And Hawkins will be adding two outstanding transfers next Monday when the sitout period ends for receiver Joseph Branch, who had 40 receptions for Taft last season, and linebacker Jac’Quan Shaw, a starter for Garfield last season.

Hawkins is in City Section Division II, and if the Hawks can get through league play relatively unscathed, it’s hard to believe anyone will be left to knock them off unless it’s Los Angeles in the playoffs.

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