Banning, Carson on Collision Course : South Torrance to Challenge Antelope Valley in 1st CIF Semifinal

Banning and Carson continue toward another showdown for the City 4-A football title, playing semifinal games against San Fernando Valley teams Friday.

South Torrance will play its first-ever CIF conference semifinal in Friday’s high school football action.

Banning will be playing host to Kennedy (6-3-1) at Long Beach Veterans Stadium as the nation’s No. 1 ranked high school team, by virtue of its 10-0 record and overwhelming defense. The Pilots defeated Kennedy earlier this season, 18-0. Kennedy, which started out 1-3 but has turned things around, features running back Edwin Jones, who is averaging nearly 100 yards per game.

Carson (9-1) faces the Valley’s best team, Granada Hills (9-0-1), at Granada. The Colts will be trying to stop the City League’s leading scorer, running back Khalid Ali, who has 16 touchdowns and 1,102 yards rushing. Granada also has a good passer in quarterback Jeremy Leach, who has passed for 1,056 yards and 12 touchdowns with nearly 60% accuracy. Carson running back Calvin Holmes needs fewer than 100 yards to top 1,000.

South Torrance High (9-3) will take a long bus ride to Lancaster to face Antelope Valley (10-1-1) in a Coastal Conference semifinal. This is the farthest South High ever has advanced in post-season play.

The Spartans will have to stop a high-powered offense featuring tailback Eric Mortensen (1,674 yards, 26 touchdowns), fullback Byron Russell (706 yards), quarterback Ron Whipple (1,224 yards passing, 12 touchdowns) and wide receiver Shon Grimes (40 receptions, 556 yards). South has the advantage in size.

The games are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.