Bad Week Turns Worse for Arcadia : Prep football: Palos Verdes Peninsula exploits absence of star tailback in 43-6 playoff rout.

The Arcadia High football team got the bad news long before suffering a 43-6 loss to Palos Verdes Peninsula in a Southern Section Division II quarterfinal game Friday night at South Torrance.

It was last Monday when Coach Jon Dimalante found out his star player, senior running back Matthis Ward, received two unsatisfactory citizenship marks on his quarterly report card and would sit out the rest of the season.

“It was such a long week because this was the most important game of my career,” said Ward, who finished the year with 1,441 yards and 17 touchdowns in 216 carries. “When I look up at the scoreboard, I hurt even more. I think I could have broke loose for some big runs tonight.”

Arcadia (10-2) wasn’t the same without Ward, and Peninsula (12-0) took advantage and easily qualified for the semifinals for the second year in a row. It will play Newhall Hart, a 42-12 winner over Compton Dominguez, next Friday night at site to be determined.

Taking advantage of six Arcadia turnovers, Peninsula ran its option offense to perfection. Quarterback Damon Gourdine had a game-high 97 yards in 12 carries and had touchdown runs of 10, 17 and seven yards.

Picking up the slack was Rashad Bartholomew and James Gill, who combined for 140 yards in 20 carries and had several key first downs in the opening half.

Arcadia’s defense, which shut out Paramount, 8-0, in last week’s playoff opener, was in disarray Friday. Trailing 14-0 late in the first half, the Apaches watched helplessly as Peninsula marched 72 yards in a minute.

Gourdine’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Larson with eight seconds left put the Panthers ahead, 21-0.

Dimalante promoted sophomore Andrew Policky to the varsity to replace Ward, but Policky managed only 68 yards in 11 carries.

With its running game failing, Arcadia went to the air. Quarterback Matt Shepherd did little better, completing seven of 16 passes for 69 yards and three interceptions. He also fumbled two snaps.

Peninsula Coach Gary Kimbrell said he had heard earlier in the week that Ward probably wouldn’t play but that it didn’t affect his game plan.

“The way our kids played tonight, I don’t think one kid from Arcadia would have made a difference anyway,” he said.