CITY SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Crenshaw’s Risks Pay Off in 26-19 Victory

With a seven-point lead and the ball deep in its own territory late in the fourth quarter, Crenshaw High twice opted not to punt on fourth-down-and-one situations.

Daring for most, but not for the Cougars as they twice gained the needed yardage to help them hold on to a 26-19 victory over Dorsey in the City 4-A semifinal Friday night at Fremont High before an estimated crowd of 4,500.

“We had confidence that we were going to make it,” said running back Brandon Seals, who completed the winning touchdown pass to Rashard Magee to begin the fourth quarter on an option pass.

Crenshaw (12-1), which defeated Dorsey, 34-10 during the regular season, will now meet Sylmar, a 27-19 winner over Carson, in the City 4-A final Saturday.

Farrel Payton, who gained 98 yards in 19 carries, rushed for the key first downs on both fourth-down plays. Crenshaw, which kept the ball for seven of the final eight minutes of the game, finally punted to the Dons, whose last drive ended on an interception by Johnny Johnson as time expired.

Crenshaw ended a second-half scoring drought for both teams with a halfback option pass by Seals (97 yards in 23 carries) to Magee, who caught five passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

“That was a key play,” Seals said. “I knew that he would be open . . . I just had to get the ball to him.”

The Cougars scored on their first possession on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Lumford to Magee.

Dorsey needed only two plays to answer, thanks to a 67-yard kickoff return by Raymond Skaggs, who also finished the drive with a 37-yard touchdown run to cut Crenshaw’s lead to 7-6.

Dorsey blew an opportunity to take the lead in the second quarter when a 47-yard touchdown punt return by Skaggs was nullified because of a clipping penalty. Two plays later, the Dons fumbled deep in Crenshaw territory.