No one’s talking about San Pedro, but they should be

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There was some genuine uncertainty about what kind of team San Pedro would have this season after losing the City Section Championship Division final last year against Birmingham.

We can stop wondering. Turns out the Pirates are pretty good, going 5-0 in nonleague play after defeating Sylmar, 21-3, on Friday.

There is one difference. This season San Pedro appears to have a quarterback who can throw.

Barry Heads, a junior, has completed 36 of 52 passes for 510 yards, with five touchdowns and one interception. And he is giving the traditionally run-oriented Pirates something they haven’t had in awhile -- offensive balance.

‘If you have the players, you can have balance,’ Pirates Coach Mike Walsh said. ‘I can see certain times where we might pass more than throw this season.

‘Barry’s not that big, maybe 5-8 or 5-9. But he’s quite mobile. We don’t call running plays for him, but if he has to move around he can get positive yardage. And he has thrown some great passes while on the run.’

San Pedro, which opens Marine League play against winless Gardena on Friday, will need Heads to continue the offensive boost he has provided so far. The Pirates’ defense took a hit when a pair defensive linemen were lost for the season. Richard Pele, who sustained a ruptured intestine, and David Feiner, who blew out a knee, were both hurt in the Garfield game on Sept. 21.

No matter, San Pedro -- which finished in a three-way tie for the league championship last year with Carson and Narbonne -- should once again be in the Marine championship mix.

Even if nobody has noticed them.

- Mike Terry