Big Games : Palos Verdes at Culver City

Culver shut out Blair last week 19-0 to raise its record to 2-0, but Fred Fuller, the Centaurs’ coach, was not satisfied with his passing game (three completions in 17 attempts).

Fuller said that his usually reliable receivers, twins Karlos and Kayton Carter, dropped five or six “short, easy passes. They weren’t concentrating on catching the ball and were more concerned about running with it.”

He said that Palos Verdes, 1-1 after an 18-13 defeat of Leuzinger last week, has a strong nucleus of juniors who were on Bay League championship teams as sophomores and freshmen.

On offense, the Sea Kings are using a full-house I formation, with three backs lining up directly behind the quarterback. Fuller said he hasn’t seen that type of formation in a long time and that Palos Verdes runs dives, traps and other option plays from the I.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday at Culver.

Santa Monica at Palisades

Palisades, a 32-0 winner over St. Monica in its opener, will meet Santa Monica, which opened with a 14-0 loss to Loyola, in the eighth annual Rotary Bowl at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Palisades.

Santa Monica leads the series 4-2-1 and has won the last two games in the series in a convincing fashion.

Though Palisades routed inexperienced St. Monica, it didn’t show much offense until the defense had scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. David Suarez got the first score on a 52-yard punt return, and cornerback Keith Wiggins got the second on a 28-yard return of an interception.

Palisades Coach Jack Epstein used three quarterbacks--Mark Thau, Darin Nellis and sophomore Perry Klein--and each accounted for a touchdown. Thau, last year’s starter, scored on a short plunge; Klein hit Harold Champion with a 26-yard scoring pass and Nellis, a transfer from Beverly Hills, sneaked one yard for the final touchdown.

Santa Monica didn’t show much offense against Loyola, but the Cubs are generally tough and were coming off a 42-13 win over St. Paul. The Viking defense showed it was hard to penetrate, especially on a late goal-line stand.

Epstein said that the “quarterback situation is wide open” and that he will probably start whichever player looks best in practice this week.

University at Eagle Rock

University Coach Joe Sedia had pre-season doubts about his inexperienced lines, but the offensive and defensive lines did well in a 25-0 opening win over Huntington Park.

The Warrior offense rolled up 238 yards on the ground, led by fullback Amani Davis (111 yards, one touchdown) and tailback Curtis Railey (91 yards, two touchdowns).

Junior backup quarterback Craig Perry got the start and completed 9 of 21 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Marc Rogers had six catches for 104 yards.

Eagle Rock, which opened with a 31-6 loss to Glendale, will play host to University at 3 p.m. Friday.

Hamilton at Westchester

Westchester’s 32-6 defeat of Jefferson was largely the work of Keith Bowen, the Comets’ highly regarded linebacker and running back. Bowen rushed for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yarder.

Fullback-linebacker Jerrald Hines’ 20-yard, fourth-quarter field goal was the difference as Hamilton eked out a 16-14 win over Venice.

At 8 p.m. Friday at Westchester.

Moorpark at Venice

Venice quarterback Ernie Soto, the Pac-8 League’s player of the year last season, missed the Hamilton game with a sprained ankle. Backup Rick McBride filled in and completed eight of 25 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown.

The Gondoliers may not need Soto against Moorpark, which lost last week to Santa Clara, 41-0. Last year Moorpark dealt Venice its only regular-season loss, 14-0.

At 8 p.m. Friday at Venice.

Torrance at Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills’ second straight win of the season, a 17-3 defeat of Harvard, came with three starters missing from the lineup.

The Normans scored on a 52-yard interception return by David Benveniste, a 55-yard run by Willie Crawford and a 35-yard field goal by Gary Melnik.

Last week Torrance was edged by Redondo Beach, 17-14.

At 3 p.m. Friday at Beverly.