HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FINALS : Birmingham Powell-Less to Stop Bell : City 3-A Division: Neck injury sidelines four-year starter and Braves fall, 25-3, in Epstein’s last game.

David Belk tried to keep Birmingham High’s dream postseason alive.

Belk had three interceptions in the second half as the Braves attempted to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit, but their offense sputtered and Bell claimed the City Section 3-A Division football title with a 25-3 victory Friday night at Gardena High.

The title is the first in football for Bell (11-3).

Birmingham (7-6-1), which had won three games after entering the playoffs seeded last, hoped to win a championship for retiring Coach Alan (Chick) Epstein. But playing without four-year starter Marvin Powell, a linebacker and fullback, the Braves were held to 153 yards of offense and could not contain Bell.

Powell sprained his neck in last week’s semifinal victory over Wilson but was advised by doctors to not play in the final.

“They seemed to know where I was going every time I ran,” tailback Courtney Blunt said. Blunt rushed for 116 yards in 20 carries to give him 1,644 yards for the season.

Two of Belk’s interceptions came deep in Bell territory during the third quarter, but a furious pass-rush by linebacker Isodro Vargas and lineman Alain Toca sacked quarterback Paul Prince four times on the second half.

“We wanted to force them to pass,” Bell Coach Henry Santiago said. “We knew they could run.”

Prince completed four of 10 passes for 53 yards with two interceptions.

One of the completions appeared to be for a 40-yard touchdown to Jason Howard midway through the fourth quarter, but Howard fumbled just before he reached the end zone.

It would be the closest the Braves came to the end zone. “It’s been so emotionally tough,” Epstein said. “We thought Marvin had a broken neck last week and when we got down we just couldn’t make a big play.”

A 70-yard run by junior tailback Vern Benard late in the third quarter provided the only score of the second half.

On the Eagles’ previous possession, Benard had a 64-yard score called back on a penalty.

“We just ran the exact same play and it worked again perfectly,” said Benard, who rushed for 179 yards in 17 carries.

Bell quarterback Gustavo Valenzuela completed eight of 19 passes for 167 yards with four interceptions.

The Braves’ longest play from scrimmage in the first half was its first, a direct snap to Howard, the wingback. Howard gained 18 yards on the play.

Birmingham’s biggest play of the half was a 50-yard punt return by Roderick Courtney to the Bell 27-yard line. The return set up a 37-yard field goal by Luis Salguero halfway through the first quarter.

After tying the score with a field goal, Bell drove 69 yards in six plays to take a 10-3 lead midway through the second quarter. A 47-yard run by Benard set up a one-yard sneak by Valenzuela.

Just before halftime, the Eagles drove 65 yards in seven plays. Dicky Percell made two spectacular receptions, the second good for a 12-yard touchdown.

A two-point conversion reception by Freddy Alcala gave Bell an 18-3 halftime lead.