Reseda’s Defense Stops Poly

Winning games with defense may not be especially pretty. It isn’t particularly flashy, and it normally doesn’t attract as much attention as say, a big 50-point offensive fireworks show.

But for Reseda, winning games with defense is a matter of course this season.

Some might call it ugly, but you can call the Regents undefeated.

Reseda kept Poly’s highly rated quarterback Joey Speakes in check, and shut down running back Don Senegal in a 24-7 Pac 8 League victory for the Regents. The win gave Reseda a share of first with a league mark of 1-0, and raised its overall record to 3-0.

Reseda Coach Joel Schaeffer considers any win a thing of beauty. Especially when the Regent opponent was previously unbeaten.

“These (Poly) guys are a tough offensive team,” Schaeffer said. “We really worked hard on our pass defense this week, and I think it showed.”

What Reseda showed Poly was a pass defense that intercepted Speakes five times. So much for the Parrot passing attack.

Poly was off to one of its best starts in years with a 2-0 mark, but the Reseda defensive unit held Speakes, the City Section’s second-rated passer, to just 110 yards. Forty-four of those were on Poly’s only touchdown, a pass to Mike Ross.

Speakes was intercepted three times in the first half. After a scoreless first period, Reseda scored on a 3-yard sneak by quarterback Mike Lance, finishing off a 7-play, 55-yard drive.

Following the kickoff, Reseda’s Sam Edwards intercepted Speakes on Poly’s first play from scrimmage. Edwards later intercepted again.

Reseda then went to running back Ronald Wilkinson. The running back, who had 114 yards in the first half, carried for 34 yards and caught a Lance pass for another 23 as the Regents drove downfield. Chris Vargas scored the second Regents’ touchdown, slicing in from a yard out to give Reseda a 14-0 lead at the half. Reseda took a 17-0 lead after three quarters as George Konstantinopolous kicked a 37-yard field goal.

Wilkenson, who finished with 163 yards on 27 attempts, scored the final Reseda touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Lance.

Poly’s sole touchdown came with just six minutes left.

Poly fell to 2-1.

Reseda also shut down Poly running back Senegal, who ranked in the City Section’s top 10 in receiving and scoring, limiting him to just 23 yards of total offense.

Reseda running back Chris Vargas gained 60 yards on just 12 carries to complete a one-two punch with Wilkinson. Lance completed 4 of 8 for 41 yards and a touchdown. He was not intercepted.