HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS / CITY SECTION SEMIFINALS : San Pedro Knocks Off Narbonne to Reach Finals

The celebration came early and often for San Pedro on Friday night after the Pirates’ 19-3 victory over Narbonne in the semifinals of the City Section Division 4-A playoffs.

Long before San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh got a power-drink shower, or the players raised their helmets to the stands, the Pirates’ were in a festive mode, riding a strong defense that put the game out of reach early.

In front of the overflowing stands at Harbor College, the Pirates, winners of 1992 and 1993 Division 3-A championships, advanced to their first 4-A final behind a pounding running attack and a defense that stiffened at just the right time.

Melvin Yarbrough scored on two one-yard plunges to win the game, and Chris Taylor added a 20-yard touchdown with 2:14 left.

Four times Narbonne was halted inside the Pirates’ 30-yard line, and the result was a trip to next Saturday’s City Section final at El Camino College, where San Pedro will face Dorsey.

In the opening quarter Narbonne moved to the San Pedro nine but turned the ball over on downs when the call for a field goal attempt from the sidelines was missed. The Gauchos (10-3) ran a play instead, and it was easily stopped by San Pedro.

In the second quarter, Narbonne had first down at the Pirate 18 but was held to a field goal.

It was much of the same in the second half. Trailing 6-3, Narbonne took the opening drive to the San Pedro 27 but fumbled. The Gauchos made it to the 15 on their next possession only to fumble again.

San Pedro turned both turnovers into touchdowns. The Pirates took the first 70 yards in 11 plays, capped by Yarbrough’s second scoring run, and keyed by a seven-yard run by Mike Castaneda on fourth and seven near midfield.

And with the second they marched 82 yards, using more than seven minutes and ending the drive with Taylor’s run.

3-A DIVISION

Reseda 24, Monroe 0--Armone Lochard rushed for 135 yards in 28 carries and an unyielding Reseda defense swamped Monroe, causing confusion and frustration.

Time after time, the Regents ran the dive play and, as a result, Monroe’s title hopes took a dive.

With a 10-0 lead, second-seeded Reseda (10-3) stopped sixth-seeded Monroe (9-4) on its opening drive in the second half.