San Fernando’s Defense Holds, but Offense Fails to Deliver in 19-6 Loss

For more than three quarters, San Fernando High waited for a big play that never came. The Tigers (1-2) held Crenshaw to just one touchdown over three quarters, but couldn’t muster any consistency on offense in losing a 19-6 nonleague decision Friday at San Fernando.

Crenshaw (3-0) scored on its first drive of the game and then picked up two long scores in the fourth quarter.

San Fernando Coach Tom Hernandez bemoaned his team’s lack of offensive firepower. His team had no problem starting drives, but the Tigers couldn’t punch the ball past the 20-yard line more than once. San Fernando either had drives stall with penalties or a quarterback sack.

“We just don’t have anybody we can count on for a long play,” he said. “We didn’t have any consistency on offense so we couldn’t put that many points on the scoreboard.”

Crenshaw opened the scoring in the first period on a 54-yard touchdown run by Larnell Bush. On third down, Bush took a pitch from quarterback Dan Robinson and cut through the right side of San Fernando’s defense to cap a seven-play, 82-yard drive.

San Fernando’s only score came on its first possession of the second quarter. Starting from their own 36-yard line, the Tigers stayed on the ground and used four different runners in the drive.

A 14-yard run by Danny Leos and an 11-yard run by Eric Lee helped set up Leos’ 2-yard touchdown run. Crenshaw’s LaMont Gaston blocked Andy Kapuchinki’s extra-point attempt and San Fernando trailed, 7-6, with eight minutes left in the first half.

After a scoreless third quarter, San Fernando quarterback Joe Mauldin, who completed just 4 of 16 passes for 59 yards, was intercepted by Rodney Scott on the Tiger 30 early in the fourth period. On the next play, Crenshaw quarterback Jefferey Sullivan hit wide receiver Wayne Peters on a 30-yard touchdown pass to give his team a 13-6 lead with 6:20 remaining. It was only the third completion of the game for Sullivan, who was 3 of 8 for 64 yards and no interceptions.

Crenshaw put the game away on its next possession when running back LaMont Peters rambled 50 yards for a touchdown with 2:26 left in the game. Peters led all rushers with 118 yards on 19 carries. Eric Lee led the San Fernando rushing attack with 31 yards on five carries.