Team Turmoil : Injuries, Illness Are Only Some of the Problems Confronting Hawthorne Football Team As It Prepares for Playoff Game

Wednesday was anything but a routine school day for Hawthorne High football Coach Dan Robbins.

He gave medical advice to several players who are fighting colds and flu, he checked on linebacker Tevita Moala’s dislocated shoulder and he sent assistant Tai Togia to LAX to pick up tailback Raul Sanchez, who had been in El Salvador with his family for two weeks.

With starting tailback Corey McCoy sidelined for the season because of an ankle injury, Sanchez will be a welcomed addition to the Hawthorne backfield when the Cougars (9-2) play host to Simi Valley (7-4) in the second round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs at 7:30 Friday night.

Sanchez missed Hawthorne’s past two games, forcing Robbins to play junior Justin Stallings at tailback. Stallings normally plays wide receiver and defensive back.

Moreover, injury and illness has plagued Hawthorne in recent weeks after the team was relatively healthy for most of the season.

“Sickness can be OK as long as (the players) are healthy by Friday,” Robbins said. “It’s kind of ironic, because earlier in the year we didn’t have as much as a stubbed toe.”

Hawthorne’s defense will be tested by a potent Simi Valley passing game. Pioneer quarterback Eric Bennett has passed for 2,675 yards and 29 touchdowns, including four TDs in last week’s 26-10 playoff victory over Rowland. Earlier this season, Bennett set a Ventura County single-game record by passing for 421 yards against Camarillo.

Simi Valley, the third-place team from the Marmonte League, has four receivers with 30 or more catches, led by Tom Herman and Aaron Whitley, who each have 41 receptions.

Although Hawthorne is without two offensive weapons (McCoy and Moala, who is not able to play fullback because of his injured shoulder), Simi Valley Coach Stan Quina is impressed with the Cougars.

“They are bigger and faster than us and that puts us at a disadvantage,” Quina said.

Following is a rundown of other Southern Section second-round playoff games involving South Bay teams. All games start at 7:30 p.m. Friday:

DIVISION III

Bell Gardens (10-1) vs. Peninsula (9-2) at Redondo High--Both teams favor grind-it-out running games. Peninsula quarterback Scott Gordon has attempted only 78 passes this season, and Panther Coach Gary Kimbrell says top-seeded Bell Gardens throws the ball even less.

“Everybody should be home by 9:30 (p.m.),” Bell Gardens Coach Dave Newell said. “It’s going to be a game of field position and who makes the fewest fumbles and penalties.”

Peninsula tailback James Durroh, who has rushed for 1,350 yards and 21 touchdowns behind a big offensive line, concerns Newell.

“He’s probably the fastest kid we’ve faced all year,” Newell said.

Bell Gardens’ offense features tailback Francisco Samano, who has rushed for 1,072 yards, and a defense that has given up an average of seven points a game. The Lancers defeated Agoura, 13-7, in overtime in their playoff opener.

“I told our kids that this will be the toughest defense we’ve faced,” Kimbrell said.

DIVISION IX

St. Joseph of Santa Maria (10-1) at West Torrance (8-3)--West Coach Kerry Crabb hopes a four-hour bus ride takes it toll on top-seeded St. Joseph.

“Normally I wouldn’t wish this on anybody, but I hope they hit an extra hour’s worth of traffic,” Crabb said. “We’ll take any bit of advantage we can get.”

St. Joseph has two 1,000-yard rushers--tailback Ali Azziz and fullback Chad Marsalek. Quarterback Matt Lopez has completed 60% of his passes and passed for 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns.

“They present some of the same problems for us that (North Torrance) did,” Crabb said.

West quarterback Ryan Marshall passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns, all to wide receiver Ryan Bustos, in a 31-30 playoff victory over Beaumont last week. St. Joseph advanced with a 47-6 victory over Santa Paula.

North Torrance (10-1) vs. Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara (7-3-1) at San Marcos High--North’s offense faces a physical Bishop Diego defense that has given up a total of 149 yards in four Tri-Valley League games. Leaders for Bishop Diego include ends Thor Smith (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and Larry Usuza (6-3, 200), and nose guard Alan Walker (6-1, 245).

With a school enrollment of 320 students, Bishop Diego has only 25 players on its roster.

Offensively, Bishop Diego relies on quarterback Greg Van Wyk, who has passed for 1,200 yards, and running back Michael Hayes, who has 800 yards rushing and 500 receiving.

North Coach Joe Austin said his team regained its confidence in last week’s 24-14 playoff victory over Calabasas. The Saxons lost the Pioneer league title and No. 1 seeding in the playoffs the previous week in a 22-21 loss to South Torrance. Saxon quarterback Frank Ramirez has passed for 2,216 yards and 24 touchdowns.

South Torrance (8-3) vs. Montclair Prep of Van Nuys (10-0) at L.A. Valley College--Montclair Prep returned to the playoffs this season after serving a one-year suspension for Southern Section rules violations. The Mounties, who played a free-lance schedule this season after being voted out of the Alpha League, won the Division X title in 1990.

Montclair Prep has outscored its opponents, 416-69, and is led by tailback Eliel Swinton, who has rushed for 1,750 yards and ranks fourth in Southern Section career rushing with 5,260 yards. Swinton rushed for 155 yards and two TDs in last week’s 26-0 playoff victory over Murrietta Valley.

“They execute well up front and they look solid defensively,” South Coach Don Morrow said. “I expect it to be a close game. I think we can move the ball against them if we mix in the pass. They are not super-imposing.”

South running back Chad Morton, a sophomore, rushed for 107 yards in the Spartans’ 15-0 playoff victory over Oak Park last week. South’s defense gave up only 32 yards.