Off the Tote Board : Monroe Workhorse Scott Carries 54 Times in Playoff Victory

When Monroe High defeated San Fernando for the City Section 4-A Division baseball championship at Dodger Stadium in June, the victory did more than just cap an improbable, Cinderella season for the Vikings, who finished fourth in the Mid-Valley League standings.

The publicity and attention generated by the Vikings’ first City baseball title since 1974 helped put Monroe back in the athletic spotlight, a position unfamiliar to the Sepulveda school in recent years.

“It had a very positive effect on the school’s athletic programs,” Monroe tailback Curtis Scott said. “In the last few years, schools looked at us as an easy game on their schedule.

“But after the baseball team won, it showed us that we could win a City title. I know everyone on the football team wanted to match the baseball team.”

After going 1-8 in 1986 and 4-4 in ‘87, the Scott-powered Vikings (9-1) surprised many so-called experts and won the Mid-Valley League title in 1988, then defeated Roosevelt, 26-18, in a first-round game of the City Section 3-A Division playoffs Friday.

Tonight, Monroe will play host to Washington in a second-round game at 7:30, and if history is any indication, Scott will carry the ball often.

Often. As in 30 or 40 times.

Against Roosevelt, the 5-10, 190-pound Scott gained 274 yards in an amazing 54 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. Scott’s 54 carries tied the state record set by Scott Zander of Newbury Park in 1983, and his 22 carries in a row established a state mark, according to Cal-Hi Sports.

It was the third 200-yard game of the season for Scott and increased his season total to a Valley-leading 1,813 yards, which also ranks fourth in the state. He has 18 touchdowns in 303 carries for a 6.0 average.

“I didn’t realize I was carrying the ball that much,” said Scott. “But I was wondering why I was so tired. Usually, when my number gets called, I can just suck it up and go for it. But there were a couple of times on Friday, where I really had to suck it up.”

Scott carried the ball so many times against Roosevelt that the usually indefatigable senior left the game for a couple of plays in the fourth quarter because of leg cramps.

Scott’s legs probably had reached their limit after 40 or 45 carries, many of which ended with him being bulldogged by several defenders.

Monroe is 10-1 since Scott became a starter in the last regular-season game of 1987--he had 207 yards in that game--and Coach Frank D’Alessandro said that it is no coincidence.

“He has incredible endurance. He just seems to get stronger as the game goes on,” D’Alessandro said after Monroe defeated Reseda, 28-13, for the Mid-Valley League title 2 1/2 weeks ago.

With Scott and wide receiver-kick returner Terry London (12 touchdowns) leading the way, Monroe has an explosive offense, something it lacked in the previous 3 years. After averaging 14.2 points a game from 1985-87, the Vikings are averaging 30.3 points a game.

Now Scott says it’s time the Monroe defense buckled down.

“They’ve struggled a little bit in the last two weeks,” he said. “We need them to play like they did against Birmingham and Reseda. If they do, we should be fine.”

And a step closer to another City Section title.