Key Returnees, Star Recruits Raise Hopes at Southwest

The high points were few in Los Angeles Southwest College’s 1993 football season, a 3-6-1 campaign punctuated by blunders, missed opportunities and lopsided scores.

But as the 1994 season opens, Coach Henry Washington is confident that his Cougars will produce performances worthy of highlights and pleasant flashbacks. He’s convinced they will erase the memories of their plunge to the bottom of the Western State Conference standings.

“We got a group of fellows returning that were key players last year, and some of the key players from the high schools we got in this year. If we play like I think we will, we’ll be a good football team,” the head coach at LASC for the past decade said.

But what’s so different about the Cougars of 1994? “We’ve got a bunch of men now. We had a bunch of little boys last year. We’re men on a mission,” Washington said.

On paper, it looks like he has a winner.

The biggest addition is Locke star Akili Roberson, one of the top players in the state, who came to LASC to boost his grades. Roberson, a two-time City Times all-star, led the Saints to the city section playoffs at quarterback the last three years, each ending in a second-round defeat.

Despite his achievements at Locke, Roberson will utilize his defensive skills at safety instead.

“I feel my chances (of making it to a larger college) are better at defense than at quarterback,” Roberson said.

Roberson, combined with Kevin Hopsin, converted back Tim McTyer and quarterback Bradley Freeman compensate for the absence of star cornerbacks Darryl Cooley and Daryl Cash in the secondary. Cash transferred to Pittsburgh University.

Linebackers Teazel Hall, Christopher Williams and Henry Washington (no relation to the coach) account for the middle. Hall, who missed the entire ’93 season with a foot injury, is a key returner.

Harold Bell, Oliver Ross, Eddie Blakely and Derek Rice are the defensive linemen. Averaging 6-4 and 250 pounds, this combination is one of the best in the conference. Bell, who led the Cougars with 12 sacks last year, is a key defensive returner. Roberson and Washington are the only newcomers on defense.

On offense, freshman running back Jermaine Lewis and Compton College transfer Courtney Bell are both key additions to a backfield diminished by the departure of ’93 Cougar rushing leader Katia Ransom, who is now at San Jose State.

Lewis was among the top 10 rushers last year in the City section’s Coastal Conference at Westchester with 633 yards and 8 touchdowns. Bell was a highly regarded back at Locke before the days of present star Sirr Parker. Bell hasn’t played since 1991.

Adding to the offensive balance is Richard Bowden, the only returning receiver from last year. Bowden, who only had seven catches for 80 yards, is likely to get more opportunities as a result of the double coverage that converted track star Kyhaunn Woods may receive. Woods has been clocked in 4.2 seconds for the 40-yard dash.

Trying to capitalize on the newly recruited speed will be quarterback Sheldon Anderson. Anderson was voted CIF 3A high school football player of the year in 1991 while at Washington. Providing the protection is a group of returners. Brian Henley, Demetrius Brown, Anthony Baker, Semaj Phanor and George Young form a stocky line, averaging 270 pounds each.