Carson Defense Smothers Granada Hills

Like a pot of black coffee left on the warmer too long, these plays, upon later examination, boil down to something very harsh and just as sobering.

In Friday night’s game between Carson and Granada Hills, the play came early in the second quarter. Call it an example of the Carson defensive mangling in microcosm.

Granada Hills running back Jamal Farmer and quarterback Jeremy Leach misplayed a handoff on their own 20-yard line. The loose ball was scooped up by Carson defensive back Charles Gardner at the 10, and he rambled in for an easy score.

The Carson defense--which came into the game with three straight shutouts and blanked the Highlanders until the third quarter--did the rest, as Carson (4-0) defeated Granada Hills, 42-14, at Granada Hills.

Leach, who entered the game as the best passer among Valley City Section players, spent most of the night scrambling for his life as the overmatched Granada Hills offensive line broke down under the stunting and blitzing Colts’ defense.

Colts? More like Clydesdales.

Leach was sacked nine times for minus-86 yards. He passed for 223 yards on 21 of 42 attempts, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

Carson, ranked No. 3 in the nation by USA Today, dominated Granada Hills (2-2) to the point that the Highlanders’ first score--and the first points surrendered by the Colts all season--came on a broken play. In the third quarter, Leach scrambled to his right, nearly fell down, and sighted 6-5 receiver Kyle Jan alone in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown strike.

Leach connected for his second touchdown in the fourth quarter, hitting receiver Darryl Stephenson on a fourth-down play from 15 yards out, closing the gap to 35-14.

After Gardner had given the Colts a 7-0 lead with his fumble recovery, the Carson defense scored the very next time it walked on the field. Leach was intercepted by Colt linebacker Rick Tiedemann at the Granada Hills 31. Tiedemann, one of several standout linebackers in the Carson lineup, made a move down the left sideline and eluded a tackler, giving Carson a 14-0 lead.

Carson’s offense got into the act on its next possession. Quarterback George Malauulu, sprinting left on an option play, tucked the ball under his arm and scooted 45 yards for a touchdown, giving Carson a 21-0 lead at the half. It happened before Granada Hills ever really knew what happened. The Colts scored three touchdowns in less than four minutes.

Granada Hills was held to just one net yard in the first half by the Colts’ defense, which had allowed only 41 total yards in three previous victories. The Highlanders finished with minus-110 yards rushing.

Malauulu finished with with a game-high 68 yards rushing on five carries.