FOOTBALL : San Pedro Crushes Washington, 28-0

Facing a bigger and stronger opponent, the Washington High football team figured the best way to beat San Pedro was to give the ball to its fastest runner--Jim McElroy.

But McElroy’s speed was not enough to counterbalance San Pedro’s strength. The Pirates won 28-0 Friday in a Southern Pacific Conference game at Washington.

McElroy, the Generals’ top receiver, was moved to tailback after the Generals fell behind 7-0 late in the first quarter. With fullbacks Doniel Webster and Gregory Gales lined up to his side, McElroy followed their blocks and rushed for 55 yards in 15 carries.

The Generals, however, wasted two scoring opportunities. After McElroy netted 46 yards on three plays, including two rushes for 21 yards each, quarterback Amar Brisco threw a 13-yard pass to Robert Wright, who dropped the ball in the end zone.

Washington Coach Edmund Johnson felt Wright held onto the ball long enough for the play to be ruled a touchdown and argued the call with officials.

“He had possession for at least two steps before the ball comes out,” Johnson said.

On the next drive, Brisco faked a handoff to McElroy and ran 14 yards into the end zone, but receiver Chris Johnson was penalized for holding.

“That holding call really hurt,” Johnson said.

The Generals suffered another setback late in the second quarter when McElroy was spun in the air by a tackle and bruised his right arm. McElroy was not a factor in the second half, carrying once for one yard and dropping a pass.

The Pirates, meanwhile, picked apart Washington’s defense and scored two touchdowns on its first two possessions. Fullback Gary Sloan scored on a four-yard run to cap a 14-play, 72-yard drive. And Jeff Williams ran for a three-yard touchdown to finish a four-play, 30-yard drive.

“From the third quarter on, our offensive line took over the game,” said San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh.

The game ended shortly after San Pedro’s Lindsey Moore scored on a nine-yard run to make the score 28-0.

Play was stopped with 2:35 left in the fourth quarter after two players from each team were ejected for fighting.