Crenshaw Slips Past San Fernando, 27-24, in 4-A Playoffs

Maybe 75 years of football teaches a school a few tricks.

San Fernando High, celebrating its 75th season, once was accused of using a wider-than-regulation field in the days when future Heisman Trophy candidates roamed its offensive backfield.

So when the San Fernando field appeared to be a little waterlogged before Wednesday night’s City Section 4-A Division playoff game against Dorsey, more than a few people wondered aloud what was up.

After all, with Crenshaw tailback Kevin Hicks in the game, any edge would help.

Hicks, however, gained a game-high 137 yards in 23 carries and scored the decisive touchdown with 1:19 left as Crenshaw defeated San Fernando, 27-24.

“If we were gonna water it down, it would be a . . . swamp right now,” San Fernando defensive coordinator Troy Starr said.

San Fernando (5-6) trailed, 15-10, after three quarters, but took a 16-15 lead when Johnny Carter broke loose from the wishbone set for a 70-yard score with 9:58 to play. Carter finished with 134 yards in 10 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Crenshaw (7-4) answered on its next possession when fullback Sean Lowery scored from one yard on a fourth-and-goal play with 3:21 remaining. It was Lowery’s lone carry of the game and gave Crenshaw a 21-16 lead.

Crenshaw appeared to have clinched the victory when Hicks, a senior, scored from 35 yards with 1:19 left. But the Tigers drove downfield and scored on a three-yard run by Carter with 11 seconds remaining. Quarterback Michael Wynn sliced in for a two-point conversion to make it 27-24. San Fernando failed to recover the onside kick, however.

San Fernando took a 10-0 lead in the first half thanks in part to a puzzling Crenshaw mistake. On their first possession, the Tigers took a 7-0 lead on fullback Vincent Hall’s four-yard run up the middle, capping a five-play, 75-yard drive. Crenshaw’s Greg Jones failed to field the ensuing kickoff and San Fernando recovered at the Crenshaw 16. A penalty gave San Fernando the ball at the seven, and Jamie Ballesteros kicked a field goal for a 10-0 lead.