Carson Gives Van Nuys a 55-0 History Lesson

Even the most casual of high school sports followers know the tradition-rich history of Carson football, so it surprised no one when the Van Nuys coaches implored their players to view the Colts as just another team entering Friday night’s City Section 4-A Division semifinal.

If the Wolves could avoid being “psyched out” by the Colts’ past, the thinking went, they might pull off yet another playoff upset.

Tradition, however, prevailed, and the Colts ran away with a 55-0 victory at Gardena High.

“We talked all week long about not letting their history get to us, but it didn’t work,” Van Nuys receiver Tasheeri Walker said. “They intimidated us with their name and physically. We got psyched out.

“Before we knew it, everything was just falling apart.”

Van Nuys, which upset Locke, 36-30, in a dramatic quarterfinal last week, ends the season 8-5. Southern Pacific Conference champion Carson (9-3-1), seeded second in the playoffs, will play top-seeded Sylmar (12-0) for the championship next week.

Carson quarterback Jamie Sander completed 14 of 18 passes for 185 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Sander, who entered the game with 2,304 yards and 17 touchdown passes, completed passes to 11 receivers.

The Colt defense dominated the Wolves, limiting quarterback John Peterson to seven-of-12 passing for 64 yards with four interceptions. Carson’s defense forced seven turnovers and scored two touchdowns.

“We just didn’t get any help from the line,” Peterson said. “We’ve played big teams before, but they were really big.”

After a scoreless opening quarter, the Colts blew the Wolves away with a 28-0 second-quarter blitz.

Carson’s offensive explosion began when running back Don Moala scored on an 11-yard run through the middle of the Wolves’ defense.

The Colts forced three turnovers and limited Van Nuys to 84 yards in the first half. Carson’s defense gave the Colts their second touchdown when cornerback Kalapu Mamea returned Peterson’s second interception 57 yards for a score.

Ledonte Hicks led Van Nuys with 58 yards in seven carries. Bill Calhoun, the team’s leading rusher this season, was held to 17 yards in seven carries.