PREPS : Scout: Hawthorne Roster Is Stocked With Talent

How good is the Hawthorne football team that has beaten its last six opponents by an average score of 44-13?

Very good, according to Greg Dies, president of the Para-Dies scouting service based in Westminster. Dies said the Cougars have “probably six or seven” NCAA Division I college prospects on their roster.

Dies said Hawthorne’s top seniors are 6-foot-5, 275-pound offensive tackle Mostafa Sobhi, tight end-linebacker Ronnie Morrissette (6-2, 215), fullback-linebacker Tevita Moala (5-11, 190) and tailback Corey McCoy. But the scout reserved some of his highest praise for one of the team’s juniors, cornerback Justin Stallings.

“Justin Stallings is the best junior defensive back in the state,” Dies said. “He’s a man out there already. He has great (speed), great anticipation and he has his head on straight. He has got decent grades.

“His man-to-man coverage as a junior in high school is phenomenal. He shuts down all kinds of good receivers.”

Dies said another promising Hawthorne junior is David Camacho, a 6-5, 240-pound offensive tackle.

Leuzinger Coach Steve Carnes came away impressed with Peninsula’s defense after the Panthers beat his team, 29-9, Oct. 16 in a Bay League opener.

So, does Carnes think Peninsula can handle explosive Hawthorne when the teams meet Friday night in a showdown for first place at Hawthorne?

“Both teams have their hands full, but I think the difference will be Hawthorne’s skill positions,” Carnes said. “I’m not saying that means Hawthorne will beat them, but for Peninsula to beat Hawthorne, they have to stop the big play.”

Carnes said for Hawthorne to win, the Cougars need to mix it up on offense because Peninsula’s strength on defense is against the run. The Panthers have given up 59.6 yards rushing a game, the second-best average in the area behind Carson.

“Peninsula has a very good defensive unit, especially the front seven,” he said. “They create problems because they’re so physical. You have to put the ball up against them. If you stay on the ground, you’re going to come up with the short end of the stick.”

Peninsula’s defensive front is led by ends Matt Cheeseman (5-11, 185) and Bart Glusac (6-4, 225) and linebackers Taso Papadakis (6-0, 235), Jerry Pilato (5-9, 220) and Travis Gannam (6-0, 225).

Because Peninsula lacks a strong passing game, Carnes said it is critical that the Panthers avoid falling behind.

“Peninsula has to control the ball and keep it away from Hawthorne,” he said. “If they get behind, it could be a problem.”

Carnes said Leuzinger played its best game of the season Friday in a 33-0 victory over Inglewood.

“For the first time, we came together as a team,” he said. “A lot of times you have 11 kids out there and they’re just playing. I felt Friday we had a common goal: to beat Inglewood and have a good shot at making the CIF playoffs. I think the kids could feel that.”

The Leuzinger defense, led by linebackers Ronald Nickerson and John Niko, limited Inglewood quarterback Leandrew Childs to minus-44 yards rushing in eight carries and one completion for a one-yard loss.

Carnes was also pleased with the play of the offensive line, anchored by tackles Tevete Usu (6-2, 310) and Randy Miller (6-2, 280), and the continued excellence of sophomore Aaron Williams, a 6-3, 220-pound sophomore who starts at tight end and outside linebacker.

“He’s just a super, super kid,” Carnes said of Williams. “He’s a straight-A student and really a pleasure to have out there. He’s played well every week.”

Because Williams runs well, there’s a possibility he could eventually become Leuzinger’s tailback. Carnes said Williams will play some tailback Friday night when the Olympians visit Culver City for a nonleague game.

“When we’ve put him (at tailback) in practice, all of a sudden we have this big power runner to go along with our good-sized line,” Carnes said. “It’s very tempting.”

Stais Boseman’s intentions of playing football and basketball at USC brought up an interesting question: Who was the last athlete to play both sports for the Trojans?

It was Marcus Cotton, who played linebacker for USC from 1984-87 and was a reserve on the basketball team. Raider safety Ronnie Lott also played both sports for the Trojans. Lott attended USC from 1977 to 1980.

But unlike Cotton and Lott, neither of whom were great basketball players, Morningside’s Boseman has a legitimate shot at starting for both teams.

Notes

Hawthorne quarterback Kenji Tatum, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns Friday in a 47-7 victory over Beverly Hills, was named state athlete of the week by Cal-Hi Sports. . . . James Fujikake scored two goals Tuesday to help Mira Costa’s water polo team clinch the Ocean League title with a 5-4 victory over host Redondo. The Mustangs, ranked eighth in the Southern Section Division III coaches’ poll, are 19-5 and 10-0 in league.

Torrance outside hitter Kim Blankinship was named most valuable player of the Marlborough girls’ volleyball tournament after leading the Tartars past Notre Dame Academy in Saturday’s final. The victory avenged Torrance’s defeat to Notre Dame in the final of Arcadia tournament and moved the Tartars up one place in the state coaches’ poll to No. 4. . . . St. Mary’s of Stockton is ranked third in the state in girls’ volleyball, but St. Mary’s of Inglewood isn’t having a bad season either. Behind 12 kills and five aces from Iyesha Sands, the Belles improved to 13-0 and 11-0 in the Camino Real League on Tuesday with a 15-9, 15-6, 6-15, 15-9 victory over La Salle.

The Mira Costa girls’ volleyball team, ranked ninth in the state, improved to 16-2 and 8-0 in the Ocean League on Tuesday with a 15-6, 15-1, 15-7 victory over visiting Beverly Hills. Outside hitter Ann Windes led the Mustangs with 12 kills and Kelli Cordray had 10. . . . Peninsula moved past Agoura into the No. 1 spot in the Southern Section Division I girls’ cross-country rankings after defeating the Chargers for the second time this season Saturday in the Mt. San Antonio College invitational.

South Bay’s Football Top 10 Selected by Times Sportswriters Rank, School, League:Record

1 Hawthorne (Bay): 6-1

2 North Torrance (Pioneer): 7-0

3 Carson (Pacific): 4-2-1

4 Peninsula (Bay): 6-1

5 San Pedro (Southern): 5-1-1

6 Banning (Pacific): 4-3

7 Serra (Camino Real): 5-2

8 South Torrance (Pioneer): 4-3

9 West Torrance (Pioneer): 5-2

10 Leuzinger (Bay) 4-3