Dorsey Pride Intact Despite Loss in Final

Dorsey Don Posse.

D.D.P., as it is known at Dorsey High School.

It’s written across green bandannas worn and waved by Dorsey students, fans and athletes at football games.

It represents the bond and pride shared among Dorsey’s football players.

And D.D.P. was never tested more than after a humbling 26-0 loss to the Carson Colts in the City 4-A championship game at El Camino College on Dec. 11.

As the rain beat down on the drooped heads of Dorsey players leaving the field, one reminded his teammates of D.D.P.

“Don’t you guys hang your heads,” he said. “Never forget D.D.P. Never forget D.D.P.”

The Dons--some sitting on the bench in disbelief, some in tears--then lined up to congratulate Carson.

This same pride was the Dons’ steadying influence in an 11-4 season of inconsistency.

Said Dorsey Coach Paul Knox after the game: “People doubted us all year. We had our ups and downs. We had to switch players at different positions. We had to try different things. But you guys never doubted yourselves. And I am proud of you.”

Despite occasional poor play at quarterback, Dorsey boasted the area’s best one-two running back combination. Seniors Christopher Phillips, who rushed for 1,195 yards and six touchdowns on the year, and Che Johnson, who had 1,069 yards and 17 touchdowns, propelled Dorsey through the playoffs.

In Dorsey’s first three playoff games, the two accounted for 857 yards and six touchdowns as the Dons defeated San Fernando (20-16), Taft (33-7) and Westchester (29-15).

The absence of an effective passing game hurt Dorsey in the title game as Dorsey’s ball-control running game suffered in the rain and mud. “We planned to throw the ball more coming into this game, but the weather took away from our initial game plan,” Knox said.

Phillips and Johnson had trouble keeping their footing.

On three occasions, Johnson attempted to break halfback leads to the outside, but he slipped for a loss of yardage. Johnson was held to 16 yards in 13 carries and Phillips had 52 yards in 16 carries.

The game’s turning point came on the last play of the first half when Johnson, whose knee appeared to touch the ground while being tackled, fumbled on the Carson four-yard line. Colt linebacker Fa’Avae Fa’Avae scooped up the ball and ran 96 yards for a touchdown. And Dorsey was down 18-0 at the half.

“In games you accept calls for and against you,” Carson Coach David Williams said. “We were glad to take it.”

“The fumble took us out of the game,” Knox said. “Che said he was down.”

Dorsey’s defensive play in the championship game was not indicative of its performance during the regular season.

Dorsey held Leuzinger, Fairfax, Washington, Gardena and Taft to less than 10 points each. The Dons’ greatest defensive display came in a 32-7 victory over Washington, where the Dons surrendered only six yards from scrimmage in the second half.

And in a 26-13 win over Manual Arts, Dorsey held the Toilers, who were led by the area’s third-leading rusher Dartanyum Smith, to just 92 yards rushing.

“Our defense played fairly well all year,” Knox said.

Dorsey’s swarming defense, he said, was anchored by All-City defensive lineman Norman Ysaguirre, who was chosen City Times’ lineman of the year. On the season, Ysaguirre had 52 tackles, including 31 solo tackles, six sacks and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also played offensive tackle.

Because Dorsey football is defined by a power running game and stingy defense, a player of Ysaguirre’s talents is of particular importance. “He is a great offensive player, and (his presence) solidified our team,” Knox said.

A team that made it to the title game with D.D.P.

“It is the glue that holds us together,” Knox said.