Sorting through a shutout

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Assessing San Pedro’s 31-0 victory over Venice, Pirates Coach Mike Walsh didn’t mince words about his team’s defense.

‘This defense has been phenomenal,’ Walsh said. ‘They’re on a pace to set the school record as far as points allowed. It’s the most complete defense we probably ever had here.’

The second-seeded Pirates (11-1) play host to third-seeded Taft (11-1) in the City Section semifinals at 7 p.m. next Friday after recording their third shutout of the season and winning five straight games.

Here are two key things San Pedro perfected to ensure the shutout.

1. Defensive pressure

All week in practice and even before the game, Walsh jokingly called senior defensive end Alonzo Lefridge the team’s ‘sack master.’

‘He says it whenever he’s making fun of me,’ Lefridge said, laughing. ‘So he said it a lot.’

Lefridge had 13 sacks before San Pedro’s game against Venice but hadn’t gotten one in the last three weeks.

That often led to Walsh saying things like this: ‘Are you falling asleep or what? Do you think the season was over? Did somebody break the news to you that we’re still playing?’

Lefridge understood the message, recording eight tackles, three sacks and two tackles for a loss.

The Pirates defense held the Gondoliers (6-6) to zero first downs after the first quarter, sacked quarterback Alfonso Medina five times and limited him to 6 of 19 for 86 yards and an interception.

‘I just wanted to get through and get my penetration and get to the quarterback,’ Lefridge said.

If Lefridge ‘gets off the ball,’ Walsh said, ‘he’s almost unblockable.’

2. Establish the running game

Aware of his 5-foot-4 and 165-pound frame, Pirates tailback Joseph Deguchi knows he can be limited in the backfield. Instead of letting it become a weakness, Deguchi tries to make up for his height disadvantage with speed.

‘I’ve been taught not to be afraid of anything,’ Deguchi said. ‘I hit the hole hard and just run.’

Deguchi ran for 139 yards off 29 carries and had a 72-yard touchdown reception. Pirates’ fullback Ryan Stanovich ran for two touchdowns, rushing seven times for 43 yards.

San Pedro’s running game not only put points on the scoreboard. It also followed the mindset that the other team can’t score if it doesn’t have the ball.

The Pirates led 14-0 after quarterback Barry Heads threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tim Mills with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter. San Pedro’s 56 rushing yards on that 91-yard, 13-play drive helped it chalk up 8:13 of the second quarter.

San Pedro’s opening drive in the second half took 9:05 off the clock, though the Pirates only settled for a Corey Hughes 21-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead at the 2:55 mark. Deguchi ran for 53 yards alone on that drive.

‘That helped our defense enormously,’ Walsh said. ‘That’s probably the least our defense has been on the field the last few weeks.’

--Mark Medina