CITY SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Bell Wins, 27-7, for a Shot at School’s First Football Title

Bell High has won City Section titles in volleyball, cross-country and baseball.

The Eagles moved closer to their first City football title with a 27-7 victory over Manual Arts in a 3-A semifinal playoff game Friday night at Gardena High.

Clinging to a 13-7 fourth-quarter lead, Bell scored two touchdowns within a five-minute span to secure its first berth in the championship since 1984 if they can beat Birmingham on Friday night.

“It was a close game all the way, but we got some lucky plays down the line,” said Bell running back Vern Benard. “Now we want to move forward and prove we can win it all.”

Benard rushed for 142 yards in 18 carries, including a 79-yard touchdown run. Dicky Purcell, who had four receptions for 51 yards, and Gary Herrera, who had two catches for 60 yards, each scored touchdowns.

Manual Arts, which was penalized eight times for 90 yards, surrendered the ball on downs three times within the 20-yard line, including twice on fourth and goal. The Toilers, though, climbed to within 13-7 after Brian Beckom scored on a one-yard run with 9:16 left.

Any comeback hopes were dashed two plays later when Benard broke outside on his 79-yard scoring run to increase Bell’s advantage to 20-7 with 8:20 left. Raul Saldana scored on a 22-yard interception return with just over three minutes left for the final margin.

“All we wanted was to practice for four weeks after the regular season,” said Bell Coach Henry Santiago, who will get his chance to put the Eagles through their paces again this week. “Regardless of whether we win in the final or not, our goal was just to make it there.”

Bell, which lost to Roosevelt in the 2-A final in 1984, opened a 13-0 lead on a 13-yard pass from Valenzuela to Dicky Purcell five minutes before halftime and a 36-yard flea flicker from Freddy Alcala to Gary Herrera in the third quarter.

William Laffitte completed 12 of 18 passes for 123 yards, including seven to Reggie Duncan for 80 yards, for Manual Arts.