JC Notes : Defensive Stars Were Missing, but Warriors Were Still Tough

The absence of its two best defensive players didn’t hurt El Camino in its season opener against L.A. Harbor. Coach John Featherstone figured he’d keep it quiet and no one would notice that all-conference defensive back Larry Bonner and linebacker Tui Suiaunoa were on the sideline in civilian clothes instead of on the field in uniform.

“I think we played pretty good defense,” Featherstone said, “considering we had almost all freshman.”

The Warrior defense ended with nine sacks and a 42-24 victory despite the absence of the two injured sophomores. Bonner had a bad hamstring and Suiaunoa a dislocated shoulder. Both will be back for next week’s game against Orange Coast College.

Featherstone and his assistant coaches pick an offensive and defensive player of the week. Winners receive “special things, like hats and T-shirts,” Featherstone said, “and the honor.”

Both players honored last week are freshman. Wide receiver Nui Sale was named the offensive player and defensive tackle Eric Marrero received the award for defense. Sale scored a safety by returning a blocked extra point 88 yards, returned two punts for 55 yards, caused two fumbles and had nine tackles. Marrero had 11 unassisted tackles and two sacks.

El Camino is still experimenting with quarterbacks. Sophomores Scott Yessner and Frank Dolce alternated quarters against Harbor. Yessner, who wears all-American quarterback Dan Spletz’s old number (8), started the game and completed 12 of 19 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Dolce, who will start against Orange Coast College, completed six of 15 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown.

With four all-conference running backs, it’s obvious why Featherstone said before the season that his team will keep the ball on the ground a lot. The Warriors still had more passing yards (294) against Harbor, but their running game looked good.

Sophomore Aaron Craver was one of the reasons. He contributed 73 yards of the 125 rushed. Sophomore wide receiver Mike Jones caught four passes for 76 yards, one for a touchdown.

Prayer in a public school? Against the law, but Harbor linebacker Jason Wyatt had his teammates bowing their heads in a circle as he conducted a pregame locker room prayer before the El Camino game.

The 6-3, 227-pound sophomore, whose father is a minister, hangs a towel from his hip that reads Phil. 4:13 , a verse in the Bible: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

Despite the loss to El Camino, Harbor Coach Chris Ferragamo was proud of quarterback Eddie Lopez, especially since the 6-2, 205-pound sophomore is a converted tight end. “He’s improved 500%,” Ferragamo said. “That game was a great tuneup for him.” Featherstone also admired Lopez: “He did a good job. He was like a slippery fish all night. We had a hard time catching him.”

L.A. Southwest College, which ended last football season with a discouraging 3-7 record, won its season opener at home against Rio Hondo College, 21-20. “We passed the ball real well,” said Coach Henry Washington, “but we didn’t run it real well. We’re just going to have to be a little more consistent.”

Sophomore quarterback Herman Tatum passed for 360 yards and wide receiver Tim Campbell had seven receptions for 140 yards. Tailback Fred Leslie made touchdown receptions of 40 and 10 yards. Defensively the Cougars did well considering their two top inside linebackers didn’t return this season. Freshman Lorenzo Dickson out of Jefferson High School had 13 unassisted tackles, three assisted tackles and one interception. “We were very pleased,” Washington said. “We just have to work on our running attack and become more balanced.”

Over the weekend, the El Camino men’s soccer team (1-1-1) finished second at the Palomar Invitational in San Marcos. On Tuesday, the Warriors tied East L.A. College, 2-2. San Pedro’s Raul Haro and Jim Lloyd scored El Camino’s goals. Next Tuesday, the Warriors play their first home game at 7:30 p.m. against San Diego Mesa College.