Chaminade’s Defense Shines in 49-0 Defeat of Harvard

Chaminade High brought out all of its usual weapons Friday night in a 49-0 Mission League victory over visiting Harvard-Westlake.

Justin Giovannettone ran for 175 yards and one touchdown.

Franklin Saunders had 121 rushing yards and scored on runs of one, 21 and 79 yards.

Adam Crecion caught four passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yard scoring pass from Saunders on the game’s first play.

But the Eagles added another weapon to their arsenal: Defense.

The much-maligned Chaminade defense, which had been allowing opponents 311 yards per game, stopped Harvard-Westlake in its muddy tracks, limiting the overmatched Wolverines (2-6, 1-2 in league play) to only five yards in offense and three first downs (one by penalty).

“It’s obvious we’ve got a lot of offensive weapons, but this was our best defensive effort,” Chaminade Coach Rich Lawson said. “I told the players that the (defense) was the key for us this week.”

It was the second shutout for the Eagles, who forced nine Wolverine fumbles and recovered five--two by lineman Lenny Grossi. Chaminade (6-2, 3-0) fumbled five times itself on the slick turf, losing two, but the Eagles scored on their first three possessions and led, 21-0, before the first period was over.

Saunders got Chaminade going on the opening play, pulling up on a sweep and lofting a pass to a wide-open Crecion, who ran untouched to the end zone to complete a 74-yard play.

Saunders went 21 yards on a draw play to score on the Eagles’ next series, then dashed 79 yards for a touchdown the third time Chaminade got the ball. Giovannettone added a two-yard touchdown run just before halftime to give the Eagles a 27-0 lead.

Chaminade quarterback Ryan Graves completed four of 11 passes for 82 yards and threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Crecion in the third period.

“We pretty much just snap the ball and come right at you,” Lawson said, “so field conditions like this cater to our style of play.”