Hawthorne Settles for Much Less

He had just directed his team on a 67-yard scoring drive in less than two minutes, but Hawthorne High quarterback Herb Shedd figured his luck was about to run out.

So with the Cougars trailing at Palos Verdes Peninsula, 17-16, with 11 seconds remaining, Shedd said he wanted to go for one extra point and a tie. But Hawthorne Coach Dan Robbins had other ideas and told his reserve senior quarterback to go for the two-point conversion.

Reluctantly, Shedd took the snap, rolled to his left and passed toward a wide-open Malakai Uhi. The pass was low.

Most of the 3,000 on hand jumped to their feet as Peninsula, ranked No. 7 by The Times, hung on to improve its record to 7-0, 4-0 in the Bay League. Hawthorne dropped to 5-2, 3-1.

Shedd, 5 feet 7, 165 pounds, was moved from receiver to quarterback three weeks ago when starter Siteina Latu injured his shoulder. Shedd brought the Cougars back from a 14-0 deficit in the second half with some big pass plays, including a 25-yard touchdown to Nathaniel Harrison with 11 seconds to go.

“I thought we should’ve gone for the tie,” Shedd said. “This way, if we finish in a tie for the league title, we could still be No. 1 by winning a coin flip. If we lose, then we’re out of the title hunt.”

Said Robbins: “We didn’t come in here to play for a tie. I will always go for the win. I don’t regret the decision.”

Peninsula entered the game having outscored its opponents, 233-19, and had four shutouts. It seemed on its way to another easy victory, leading 14-0, at halftime.

Ahead, 7-0, late in the first half, the Panthers’ Damon Gourdine threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Scott McMorris with 11 seconds to play.

But after a Peninsula fumble, Hawthorne’s Marcel Jamison broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

The teams traded field goals before Hawthorne took possession on its 33 with 1:55 to go. Shedd was four for eight on the final drive.