Champ Franklin Trips Gardena, 21-7

What started as a tough evening for the Gardena football team got better, then worse, as the Mohicans were eliminated from the City 3-A playoffs Wednesday night by defending champion Franklin, 21-7.

Because of traffic and rain, the bus carrying the Gardena team did not arrive at L.A. Wilson High until 7:20 p.m., just 10 minutes from the game’s scheduled start. Both teams took the field at 7:45, and the contest finally got under way at 8.

In truth, things started pretty well for the Mohicans despite the persistent mist and sloppy playing conditions. Although Franklin outgained Gardena in the first half, 119-57, the Mohicans held a 7-6 advantage at intermission.

Franklin’s Ray Figueroa returned the opening kickoff 37 yards and a Mohican penalty moved the ball to the Gardena 42. On the first play, quarterback Santiago Alvarez hit Lamar Lovett with a 33-yard pass, but the drive stalled and the Panthers settled for a 23-yard field goal from Emilio Marquez.

Gardena recovered Adriann Wong’s fumble on a punt return at Franklin’s 32. Seven plays later quarterback Eddie Matamoros hit Clifford Burkhalter with a 3-yard scoring pass and Matamoros’ extra point put Gardena ahead, 7-3.

With two seconds left in the half, Marquez again connected, this time from 22 yards out.

Franklin opened up the second half with an effective pass rush that forced a Matamoros fumble at the Mohican 27. One play later, Lamont Lovett rambled in from 28 yards out, giving the Panthers a lead they would not relinquish.

A 15-play, 83-yard drive that culminated in Lamont Lovett’s 1-yard touchdown run put the game on ice for the Panthers.