McCullough Leads Muir Over Locke

Pasadena Muir tailback Sultan McCullough capped off a workhorse night with a three-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds remaining to give the Mustangs a 37-36 nonconference win over Locke High Friday at Gardena High.

McCullough, a junior speedster who is the younger brother of Oregon’s Saladin McCullough, did not find much room to run, but he made the most of his 36 carries by rushing for 184 yards and three touchdowns in leading Muir to a comeback win in the season opener for both teams.

“He’s a warrior who lets it all hang out,” said Tony Crutchfield, Muir co-coach. “He wanted the ball there at the end.”

On Muir’s final drive, the Mustangs drove 34 yards in nine plays after a fumble by Locke’s Raythal Wilson with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter. McCullough, who had fumbled to end the Mustangs’ previous possession, carried the ball eight times on the drive, including a slashing three-yard touchdown run on his final carry.

In defeat, Locke gave a good account for the City Section with several big plays against a traditional Southern Section power.

The Saints scored on their first snap with a double-reverse 64-yard pass play from wingback Wayne Johnson to Devery Hughes. Locke added the two-point conversion on a run by Vonshay Crawford to take an early 8-0 lead.

The Mustangs answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Lashaun Ward to DeAngelo Steward and tied the game on a conversion run by McCullough. Later in the first quarter, Locke took advantage of a bad punt snap by Muir to take a 14-8 lead on a one-yard run by junior quarterback Adam Kennybrew. Muir then scored the next two touchdowns on eight- and nine-yard runs by McCullough to take a 23-14 lead.

With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Locke cut the Mustangs’ lead with a 59-yard touchdown pass-play from Kennybrew to Hughes to make the halftime score 23-20.

Donte King gave Locke a 28-23 lead midway through the third quarter with a three-yard dash that was set up by a 62-yard run by Wilson. Muir did not take long to respond as the Mustangs scored on a 47-yard touchdown catch by tight end Anthony Kelley from Ward.

Wilson, who finished with 160 yards in 11 carries, scored on a 39-yard run early in the fourth quarter to give the Saints a 36-30 lead before McCullough took over down the stretch.

“We knew that [McCullough] was going to get the ball,” Locke defensive lineman Arey Harvey said. “We played hard. [Hopefully] we sent a message to the rest of the City.”