HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Defending Champions Make Early Exits : Dorsey Eliminates Granada Hills for Second Time in Four Seasons

They say lightning never strikes twice in the same spot, but one would have had a difficult time convincing the Granada Hills High football team of that Friday night.

A lightning bolt by the name of Dorsey struck down the Highlanders for the second time in 4 seasons, winning, 33-13, in a City Section 4-A Division playoff opener at Granada Hills High.

It was almost 3 years ago to the day that Dorsey upended the Highlanders, 34-14, at Granada Hills in another first-round game.

As was the case in 1985, the Dons used superior team speed and the big play to defeat the Highlanders (8-3).

“Speed kills,” Granada Hills Coach Darryl Stroh said. “You make a mistake against a team like this and you pay.”

Although the Highlanders moved the ball effectively against the Dons, they committed 4 turnovers, and Dorsey (8-2) turned 2 of them into touchdowns.

Granada Hills quarterback Chris Gadomski had his best game of the season, completing 18 of 34 passes for 225 yards. He threw 1 interception, on the game’s last play, and Dorsey’s Shawn Miller returned it 93 yards for a touchdown.

It was like that all night for the defending-champion Highlanders. Earlier in the fourth period, Beno Bryant (16 carries, 134 yards, 2 touchdowns) broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown run that put the Dons ahead, 27-13, with 7:01 to play.

The Highlanders had closed to within 20-13 2 minutes earlier on a 17-yard run by Leon Glasgow.

“We gave it away,” Stroh said. “We had a lot of opportunities. If we had moved the ball like this last week against San Fernando, we wouldn’t have had to play Dorsey tonight.”

The Highlanders also got a good effort from Mario Walker, who shook off a leg cramp to finish with 97 yards in 17 carries. He scored Granada Hills’ other touchdown on a 13-yard run in the second quarter.

The Dons rushed for 333 yards and finished with 371 yards overall. Sharrieff Shaw led the way with 153 yards in 14 carries, including touchdown runs of 21 yards in the first period and 55 yards in the second quarter.

The Dons led, 14-6, at halftime.

Dorsey increased its lead to 20-6 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Bryant late in the third period.

Granada Hills’ William Morninglane was the game’s leading receiver with 7 catches for 105 yards.

The Highlanders finished with 369 yards overall.

The Dons got their first touchdown after Glasgow muffed a punt at the Granada Hills’ 19 and John Lewis recovered for Dorsey. After Bryant lost 2 yards, Shaw burst up the middle for 21 yards and a touchdown. Sean Hunter added the kick, and Dorsey led, 7-0, with 6:36 left in the first period.