Roulhac Lifts Crenshaw to 3-A Final

Crenshaw High receiver Damon Roulhac scored a touchdown on a 39-yard pass play from quarterback Whitney Jones with 2:05 left Friday night to lift the Cougars past San Pedro, 10-7, in a City 3-A Division semifinal game at Gardena High.

Crenshaw (9-4) will play Chatsworth for the 3-A title, Crenshaw’s first appearance in a City final since 1982 and Chatsworth’s first in 12 years.

Crenshaw trailed, 7-3, and was faced with a fourth-and-eight situation when Jones hit Roulhac with a short flare pass. Roulhac broke one tackle and then eluded two San Pedro defenders near the left sideline before racing into the end zone.

“I had confidence in myself,” Roulhac said. “At first I thought they’d tackle me. But after I broke the first tackle, I knew I’d make it.”

Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett said Roulhac wanted to redeem himself after dropping a key pass earlier in the game.

“He was a bit disappointed and said he was going to get the next one,” Garrett said. “It was a great play.”

San Pedro (8-5), which took a 7-3 lead in the third quarter on a 42-yard touchdown run by tailback Ambrose Russo, drove to the Crenshaw 38 in the final minute. But a third-down pass from quarterback Rino Marconi was tipped and intercepted by Crenshaw defensive back Aaron Willard with 17 seconds left to secure the victory.

Crenshaw linebacker Jallet Hall blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt by George Ortiz early in the fourth quarter to keep San Pedro from extending its lead.

Crenshaw’s Kofi Nartey had kicked a 36-yard field goal on the last play of the first half for a 3-0 lead.

Nartey’s kick came after a Crenshaw touchdown was called back. Demetrius Henderson completed a nine-yard pass to James Harbour in the end zone on a fake field goal, but the Cougars had an illegal receiver downfield.

Chatsworth 17, Roosevelt 14--Montay Hardison rushed for 141 yards in 33 carries and scored both Chatsworth touchdowns at home.

Leading 10-7 in the third quarter, Hardison led the Chancellors on a 14-play, 95-yard touchdown drive by carrying nine times for 37 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown.