Chadwick Romps to Prep League Title

The voice of Chadwick football Coach Sid Grant was hoarse for good reason Saturday. The Dolphins clinched their first Prep League title since 1986 with a 58-35 victory over visiting Flintridge Prep.

“I’ve been yelling my head off,” said Grant, celebrating his first league title in six years as coach. “We finally got it. To say the least, I feel great.”

Chadwick, ranked second in the Southern Section Eight-Man Large Division, improved to 7-0 and completed league play with a 4-0 record. The Dolphins finish the regular season Friday with a nonleague game against fifth-ranked South Bay Lutheran of Inglewood.

Quarterback Ricco Washington led Chadwick by completing 11 of 19 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Scooter Atkins rushed for 188 yards and one TD in 25 carries.

Although the Dolphins won by 23 points, they trailed, 21-10, early in the second quarter. A 10-yard scoring pass from Washington to wide receiver Armand Dawkins cut the deficit, and Chadwick took a 24-21 lead before halftime on Neil Thakur’s 40-yard fumble return for a TD.

The Dolphins extended their lead on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter when Atkins ran 63 yards for a TD. On the second play of Chadwick’s next possession, Washington completed a 75-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Brett Comfort, who also had a 23-yard TD reception.

South Bay Lutheran 54, Viewpoint 14--Running back Marshean Cox rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Akeje Agu ran for two TDs and passed for another at Mira Costa High to help the Waves (5-1-1, 3-0-1) clinch at least a tie for the Heritage League title.

Lutheran, which has completed league play, is tied for first with Ribet Academy, which plays Los Angeles Lutheran in a league finale next week.

Cox, who had 18 carries, scored on runs of 15, 30 and 40 yards. Agu rushed for 84 yards in 10 carries and completed four of six passes for 87 yards. Agu also led the Waves with 15 tackles.

Gateway Christian 50, Pioneer Baptist 0--Ben Holt and Eugene Francis combined for seven touchdowns in an Express League game at Whittier Christian High that was called at halftime because of the 45-point mercy rule in eight-man football.

Running time was kept in the second quarter after the Hawks (7-1, 3-0) built a 32-0 lead in the first quarter.

Holt returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a TD and also scored on one- and 25-yard runs and a 13-yard interception return. Francis scored on an 18-yard run and punt returns of 25 and 35 yards.