GAME OF THE WEEK : Carson Flattens Franklin

Despite having four touchdown runs and 195 rushing yards called back by penalties, senior running back J.R. Redmond led his Carson Colts (3-8) to a stunning 33-9 first-round City 4-A playoff victory against the Franklin Panthers, the Northern Conference champions, at Garfield High School.

Redmond carried 16 times for 122 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Franklin’s high-powered passing attack could only manage 182 yards as the city’s leading passer, Jeff Deno (who threw for 2,485 yards and 32 touchdowns in the regular season) was limited to 10 of 32 completions and one touchdown. The city’s leading receiver, Johnny Sanders,had six catches for 114 yards and no touchdowns.

“Carson had the athletes to match us,” said Franklin Coach Armando Gonzalez.

The Colts’ senior quarterback, Ramon Rodgers, completed 11 of 15 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, two of them going to senior wideout Benjamin Holt. Carson held a 14-3 halftime lead.

“We had to slow them down,” said Carson Coach David Williams. “We managed to contain Deno and put them in predictable situations and take advantage of those situations.”

The Colts could be the first team to win a City championship with a losing record. They were forced to forfeit wins over Crenshaw, Banning and Narbonne for using an academically ineligible sophomore backup player in those games.

If Carson repeats as 4-A City champion, they will have posted a 6-8 record.