HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : City 3-A : South Gate Is First Ever to Win 14

South Gate High School reversed a 33-year championship-season drought Friday with a 13-9 victory over Westchester in the City 3-A Division title game at El Camino College’s Murdock Stadium.

The Rams, who last won a City championship in 1955, finished the season undefeated and became the first City team to win 14 games in a single season.

Coincidentally, the play that eliminated South Gate from the 1977 playoffs--a snap that sailed over the punter’s head--also proved to be the difference Friday. This time, however, South Gate made the mistake.

Westchester was leading, 9-6, with 2:17 to play in the third quarter when Noah Kaiser’s snap sailed over punter Victor Darensbourg’s head and into the end zone. South Gate’s Eduardo Manzanares recovered the ball for what proved to be the winning touchdown.

“Victor got confused, and that’s the just the risk you take,” Westchester Coach Larry Wein said.

Westchester (10-4) drove to the South Gate 32-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but Comet quarterback Damion Smith mishandled a snap on first down and linebacker Jerry Lopez fell on the ball to give the Rams the victory.

“These games always boil down to to breaks and I’ll take them anyway I can,” South Gate Coach Gary Cordray said.

South Gate tailback Ivan Wilson gained 145 yards in 29 carries including one for 35 yards that set up Marcos Villa’s 1-yard touchdown run with 5:26 left in the first quarter.

Westchester failed to capitalize on excellent field position throughout most of the first half, managing only a 32-yard field goal by Steve Raack.

Smith (7 of 11 for 155 yards) gave the Comets a 9-6 lead on a 42-yard scoring pass to Bart Washington with 27 seconds left in the first half. Washington charged untouched into the end zone after Villa, who also plays defensive back, fell.