A “must” win for Crenshaw?

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People keep telling me not to worry about the ‘Shaw.

Yes, the Cougars (0-3) have played three tough teams this season in Merced, Norco and Dominguez, but it’s league play that counts the most, and they will be ready to battle Dorsey for the Coliseum League title. Only two years ago, Crenshaw finished its nonleague schedule 2-3 then won nine straight to claim the City championship.

This season, however, the Cougars don’t appear to be progressing game to game. Dominguez is a two-time defending Southern Section divisional champion, but are the Dons, who beat Crenshaw, 49-12, last week, really 37 points better?

The Cougars visit Roosevelt on Friday. The Rough Riders are 3-0, with victories over Grant, Wilson and Contreras. None of those schools are at the level of the competition that Crenshaw has faced, so logically one would expect the Cougars to win and put to rest some of the uncertainty that might be flowering in the minds of the players and their fans.

But winning and losing are alike in this sense -- both are contagious. Roosevelt does have some talent with junior quarterback Jesse Diaz and senior running back Jonathan Torres, and though the Rough Riders may not be expected to win on Friday, they will play to win.

And what if Crenshaw doesn’t win?

What keeps the season from spinning out of control?

- Mike Terry