FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

Carson 21, South Gate 13--Few teams get an opportunity to score against Carson High’s defense. South Gate had seven opportunities, succeeding twice.

The Rams’ two touchdowns, however, were not enough. The nine-time City 4-A champion Colts won 21-13 Wednesday night in a quarterfinal football game at South Gate.

After scoring on their first two possessions, the Rams had the ball five times inside the 25-yard line and failed to score.

Running back Hoffman Cortes helped the Rams control the clock, rushing for 266 yards and a touchdown in 30 carries. His 82-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave South Gate a 13-7 lead.

South Gate then drove to the Carson five in 10 plays after Martin Torrea recovered a fumble. Quarterback Juan Vasquez’s pass bounced in and out of the hands of receiver Eddie Montez. Defensive back Jeffrey Waters intercepted the pass and Carson stopped the scoring threat. Montez caught a nine-yard pass from Vasquez for the Rams’ first score.

Ten plays later, Joseph Redmond, who rushed for 94 yards in 15 carries, scored on a four-yard run to cap a 10-play, 80-yard drive, and the Colts took the lead for good, 14-13.

Kicker Raul Aguilar missed field goal attempts of 40 and 28 yards during the Rams’ next two drives.

“They played better than we did,” South Gate Coach Gary Cordray said. “We had our opportunities but we didn’t get the ball in (the end zone).”

Carson, the defending City 4-A champions, qualified for the playoffs despite forfeiting three games for using an ineligible player. Carson will play top-ranked Sylmar in the semifinals Friday.