GAME OF THE WEEK : Amat Pins 0-1-1 Start on Carson

After misfiring in last week’s season opener and settling for a tie with San Diego Mt. Carmel, Carson High took aim at Southern Section Division I powerhouse Bishop Amat on Friday night. And Carson missed the target again.

Bishop Amat, playing at home, scored all its points in the second half and beat City Section Carson, 14-10, in front of a crowd estimated at 3,500 at Kiefer Stadium.

Carson was driving toward a possible game-winning touchdown, when Lancer defensive back Paul Shay intercepted a pass from Colt quarterback Jamie Sander in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining.

Kept in check in the first-half with only five total yards, Bishop Amat broke loose behind tailback Rodney Sermons, who rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown in the second. The 6-foot junior carried 21 times for 77 yards.

Quarterback Mike Smith, completing three of 10 passes for 31 yards in the first half, rebounded in the final 24 minutes, completing four of six for 54 yards and a touchdown. He finished seven of 16 for 85 yards.

Trailing 10-0, Bishop Amat got on track midway through the third quarter with a five-play, 47-yard scoring drive. Sermons got 38 of those yards by completing a halfback option pass to wide receiver Daylon McCutcheon, then put the finishing touch on the series with a 10-yard rushing score. Jeff Blanks’ kick made the score, 10-7.

Three plays later, linebacker Enrique Ybanez recovered Carson tailback Sean Turner’s fumble to set up the next score. Then, Smith completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Randy Guanko for the winning score.

Carson was the nation’s No. 2 team in some preseason polls. But when it tied Mt. Carmel, 7-7, last Friday night, its offense failed to score against a team that finished 1-9 in 1991.

In this game, Carson began clicking with 5:35 remaining. Starting at its 15, Carson used two quick passes from Sander to wide receiver Shadeed Muhammad to move to the Bishop Amat 36-yard line. Then Sander hit Tony Harvey with a 29-yard scoring pass. Michael Rodriguez’s kick made it, 7-0, and he added a 44-yard field goal for 10-0 before the half ended.