City Roundup : Banning Survives Late Rally to Prevail Over Locke, 28-20

Banning jumped out to a big lead early and withstood a fierce rally by Locke to escape with a 28-20 non-league victory Thursday at Gardena High.

Senior quarterback John Ma’ae sealed the victory for the Pilots (2-1-1) when he ran 49 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

The Saints’ comeback bid fell short when a fourth-down desperation pass was tipped away deep in Banning territory. The Pilots took over and ran out the clock.

Banning took the opening kickoff and drove 42 yards in nine plays for its first score, a 24-yard burst by junior running back Kenneth McKinely. The extra-point attempt failed.

Banning added a safety on the Saints’ first possession when Locke punter Jose Rios fell down in the end zone.

Ma’ae drove the Pilots 45 yards in seven plays for another first-quarter score, making the touchdown himself on an 11-yard keeper.

Locke needed just three plays to strike back. Quarterback Stacey Mitchell ran 61 yards for a touchdown, and a two-point conversion cut Banning’s lead to 15-8 at the end of the quarter.

However, the Pilots stretched it out again, McKinely scoring on a eight-yard run, and led 22-8 at halftime.

After intermission, the Saints needed just one play to get into the end zone: quarterback Dewayne Bryant’s 31-yard pass to Antoine Redmond. In the fourth quarter, Locke drove 75 yards in four plays, capped by a 10-yard by Kimo Dunn. Banning led by just 22-20 with 10:50 left, before Ma’ae’s clinching run.

San Pedro 7, Cleveland 0--The Pirates used a first-quarter touchdown run by fullback Al Schrader and two key defensive plays to register their first win of the season in a non-league game at Daniels Field in San Pedro.

After Schrader’s two-yard scoring plunge put San Pedro (1-2) ahead, Cleveland (1-1) threatened in the second quarter but was turned away when defensive back Herb Whitaker intercepted a pass at the Pirate goal line.

Cleveland’s last possession ended with 1:50 to play when San Pedro defensive lineman Carlos Cruz recovered a fumble by quarterback Steve Bryant, who was sacked at the Cleveland 17-yard line.

San Pedro tailback Melvin Taylor filled in nicely for injured starter Eric Johnson by rushing for 61 yards on 18 carries.