CITY SHOWDOWNExpect a close game when Westchester...

CITY SHOWDOWN

Expect a close game when Westchester plays host to Dorsey in the City Section 4-A Division semifinal football game Friday.

The Comets have had five games decided by two or less points, including two playoff games. Last week, quarterback Seka Edwards threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tony Griffin with 1 minute 17 seconds left and Jaime Carcamo kicked the extra point as Westchester held on to defeat Locke, 13-12.

On the last play of the game, Locke quarterback Akili Roberson threw a 39-yard pass to Sirr Parker in the end zone. One official ruled Parker caught the ball for a touchdown, but the back judge overruled, saying the ball hit the ground before Parker caught it.

“We’re surviving,” Westchester Coach Larry Wein said. “Teams who are pretty even are going to take games to the wire.”

The Comets qualified for the semifinals for the first time since 1988, when they lost in the 3-A title game. Westchester won the 2-A title in 1987. San Jose State running back Tim Holiday was a member both teams.

This game marks a reunion of sorts for Wein, who coached football at Dorsey from 1975 to 1982. One of Wein’s players was former Ram and present Indianapolis Colt receiver Aaron Cox.

“It was my first coaching job and I really enjoyed working with the kids there,” Wein said.

Dorsey is a physical team that likes to run the ball. Che Johnson and Christopher Phillips are the Dons’ top running backs. Dorsey beat Taft, 33-7, to gain a berth in the semifinals.

“We’re small and sort of a finesse team,” Wein said. “We like to throw the ball a lot.

“They played a finesse team last week and beat the snot out of them, which kind of makes us worried.”

REPEAT OF TITLE FEAT?

Brentwood will defend its Southern Section Eight-Man Large Schools Division title against Faith Baptist in the championship final at 1 p.m. Saturday at Faith Baptist.

The Eagles (10-0) beat Pasadena Poly (9-2), 53-30, in the semifinals last week behind the running of Brian Messing. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior carried the ball 43 times for 414 yards and four touchdowns. He also completed a 50-yard third-quarter touchdown pass to receiver Teddy Miller. Messing eclipsed the previous single-game school rushing record of 285 yards, set by Jay Langan in 1988 and equaled in 1989 by Aaron Short.

“Brian was really punishing their defensive backs,” Brentwood Coach Pat Brown said. “By the fourth quarter, I think they just got tired of having to take him head-on.”

It will be the second game between Brentwood and Faith Baptist (10-1). In the third week of the season, Brentwood defeated the Contenders, 34-8. Brown says Faith Baptist has improved since the first game.

“Their quarterback, Judd Granzow, was ill that day with a fever,” Brown said. “He looked a little sluggish.”

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior went on to finish the regular season by completing 71 of 130 passes for 1,715 yards and 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions in nine games. He also ran for 828 yards in 94 carries and scored 15 touchdowns. As a freshman in 1991, Granzow led Faith Baptist to the Eight Man title.

KICKING THEMSELVES

The broken collarbone kicker William Maples suffered the Tuesday before the start of the playoffs proved costly to Culver City.

In the Southern Section Division VII quarterfinals at Arroyo Grande last week, Culver City failed every extra-point attempt and lost, 35-30.

Maples, a senior, kicked 15 extra points.

“That really hurt us,” Culver City Coach Robert Moore said. “We missed him terribly.”

Culver City fumbled on consecutive possessions in the second half and Arroyo Grande converted the miscues into touchdowns.

“I knew if we made any mistakes our game would be on the line,” Moore said. “And they were too good for us to overcome.”

The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for Culver City (8-4).

The Culver City School District’s new open enrollment program next year should give the football team a boost. The policy will allow students from other districts to attend Culver City without the need for permits.

“That might give some 250- or 260-pound lineman a chance to play for us,” Moore said. “That will sure help.”

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Santa Monica College football team did not qualify for a bowl game, but six alumni will be participating in postseason games.

Tight end Danny While is playing for Marshall in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. Utah wide receiver Greg Hooks will play against USC in the Freedom Bowl. Arizona fullback Jason Patterson and defensive back Derrick Stewart will play in the Fiesta Bowl. Clemson offensive tackle Andre Hewit will play in the Peach Bowl. Utah State defensive back Tyrone Trimble will be in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Tailback Mario Mattison and offensive tackle Shane Stevenson were selected to the Western State Conference team. Mattison was named the Western State Conference player of the week after rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns in Santa Monica’s 34-26 victory over L.A. Southwest.

SECOND CHANCE

The Brentwood volleyball team beat La Jolla Bishop’s, 15-7, 10-15, 15-17, 15-2, 15-7, in the Southern California Regional Division V finals Tuesday at La Jolla. The Eagles plays Northern California representative Atherton Sacred Heart in the State Division V finals Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

Brentwood qualified for the state tournament despite losing to Valley Christian, 15-6, 15-8, 8-15, 6-15, 15-10, in the quarterfinals of the Division V finals.

The Eagles earned an at-large bid when six of the eight quarterfinalists were placed in a higher division for the state playoffs.

After beating El Cajon Christian, Brentwood defeated Cambria Coast Union, 6-15, 8-15, 15-8, 15-8, 16-14, Saturday in Cambria. The Eagles traveled north nearly 250 miles to play the match.

Outside hitters Kelly Gentile and Chereena Tennis are the team’s top spikers. Gentile, who has been selected to the Division V team the past two years, averages 18 kills a match and Tennis averages 14. Setter Sarah Neal runs the team’s offense.

“All three players have been very important to the team’s success,” Coach Jeff Porter.

The Eagles played Tuesday without middle blockers Erin Hawkins and Emily Manning, who suffered injuries during earlier regional matches.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Peter Gilmore of Palisades and Genevieve DuBose of Hamilton were the top City Section runners at the State championships Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Gilmore, a junior, placed ninth in 15 minutes 36 seconds for the 5,000-meter course--the highest finish by a City runner in three years. DuBose, a senior who won her school’s first City individual cross-country title, was 45th in 19:53.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Crossroads added another sport to its list of champions. The Roadrunners beat Brentwood, 10-8, on Nov. 23 to win the Division V tennis championship. The Roadrunners also beat Brentwood, 10-8, to win their first Delphic League title.

Yasmeen Benjamin, who had a 40-5 record, was the team’s top singles player and Erika Chau and Liv Sheinbaum formed the top doubles team.

“I’m real proud of these girls,” Crossroads Coach Martin Hershey said. “This is the first title in boys’ or girls’ tennis in the history of Crossroads. We have been underdogs to Brentwood forever. We’ve never beaten them before this year.”

Crossroads also has won Southern Section titles in boys’ and girls’ basketball, baseball and softball.

SIGNINGS

St. Bernard center fielder Dana Harrison signed to play with Long Beach State and Viking second baseman Paul Lopez signed with University of San Francisco, St. Bernard Coach Bob Yarnall said.

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For the record: Crossroads softball pitcher Jessica Schulman signed with Stanford. The Roadrunners have won two consecutive Division V championships.