Youngblood Runs, Passes Carson Past Banning, 41-0

Armin Youngblood completed 12 of 21 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns to lead Carson to a 41-0 victory over Banning Thursday night before a national TV audience and an estimated 12,000 fans at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.

Carson has five consecutive victories over its neighborhood rival, including a 55-7 win in last season’s City 4-A Division championship game.

Banning controlled Carson’s short passing game early, forcing the Colts to work on the ground late in the second quarter. In a six-play, 50-yard drive, Youngblood gained 32 yards on consecutive runs, setting up a five-yard touchdown run by Abdul Muhammed.

On the next Carson possession, senior wide receiver Michael Ross caught Youngblood’s 24-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.

Ross, who holds most of Carson’s season and career receiving records, caught four passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

The Colt defense, led by All-American linebacker Nkosi Littleton and lineman Marcus Long, held Banning and its standout senior quarterback, John Ma’ae, to 19 yards in the first half.

Banning’s comeback hopes received a major blow on the last play in the first half, when Ma’ae injured a knee. Ma’ae, who completed four of five passes for 35 yards, was removed from the field on a stretcher and taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital.

Youngblood and Ross hooked up on a 19-yard touchdown pass play in the third quarter, and Michael Jefferson’s two-yard scoring run in the same period made it 28-0.

That was increased in the fourth quarter, Youngblood connecting with Tydus Winans on a 44-yard touchdown pass play, and linebacker Mathew Faraimo scoring on a 12-yard fumble recovery. Carson improved to 7-1; Banning is 6-2-1.