San Pedro-Narbonne Off-Field Rivalry Heats Up

The football rivalry between South Bay powers San Pedro and Harbor City Narbonne may be friendly on the field, but off it tempers are flaring.

The latest exchange of words took place before Friday night’s game at Daniels Field near San Pedro High. Fearing space limitations, Narbonne officials requested the game be moved to a nearby larger facility, such as El Camino College or Harbor College.

San Pedro officials denied the request.

The result was a capacity crowd two hours before kickoff. Hundred of spectators, including many parents of players, were turned away at the gate despite having bought tickets in advance. Several reporters were also denied admittance and watched the game on a monitor inside a cable television truck.

San Pedro won dramatically, 16-14, scoring a touchdown on the final play before 3,500.

Tim Moriarty, Narbonne’s athletic director, said a significant number of parents and community supporters from his school were upset that they couldn’t get into the game.

“There were a lot of mothers who couldn’t watch their kids play, and they were plenty upset about it,” Moriarty said. “After the game, I was also very worried about security. There were a lot of hostile people waiting for the game to end.”

San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh defended playing the game at Daniels Field.

“I didn’t take this job to coach home games at Gardena High or someplace else,” he said. “I think it’s important for our games to stay in the community. My wife and son arrived at the stadium at 4 o’clock to get a seat. For the big games, you have to plan ahead.”

A similar debate took place last season when the schools met in the City Section Division 4-A semifinals. San Pedro, the host school, wanted to play at Daniels Field but eventually moved to Harbor College at the request of district officials.

With both teams on course to make the playoffs again, a rematch is likely in the postseason. And so is a fight over the site.

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It was a late addition to the schedule, but Atascadero football Coach Larry Welsh isn’t complaining after his team upset highly ranked Capistrano Valley of Mission Viejo, 14-12, on Saturday night at Mission Viejo.

Atascadero, a Southern Section Division IX power, had trouble finding a nonleague opponent for the fourth week of the season. Welsh made countless phone calls last spring in search of a game before finally finding a taker in Capistrano Valley. The Cougars, who compete in Division I, were expected to challenge for a title this season.

“I don’t know if they took us seriously or not, but we were well aware of their program,” Welsh said. “I doubt they’ll be looking forward to coming up here next year.”

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The Inglewood football team is being investigated by the Southern Section for possibly playing two academically ineligible players.

The players in question, Delvon Flowers and Nickey Gates, were transfers; Flowers from Gardena and Gates from Fairfax. They are accused of not having the necessary grade-point average of 2.0 needed for eligibility.

Although the players were cleared by officials of the Bay League, in which Inglewood competes, the Southern Section has not yet ruled on the matter.

“We still have questions and should have answers soon,” said Dean Crowley, Southern Section commissioner.

If one or both of the players are ruled ineligible, Inglewood (2-1-1) will have to forfeit its two victories and the tie.

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Norco administrators hope to correct electrical problems at the football field that resulted in an early finish to last Friday’s game against Rialto.

Early in the fourth quarter, lights went out on both sides of the bleachers. Although some stadium lights remained on, it was especially difficult for those on the Rialto sideline to see yard markers and numbers on the back of players’ jerseys.

Officials held a brief conference and decided to allow the game to continue. Four plays later, however, they held another discussion and called the game. Norco won, 42-0.

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The public address announcer had to mention mascots instead of school names during Friday’s football game between Clovis (Calif.) and Clovis (N.M.). In a rare matchup between schools of the same name, Clovis (N.M.) won, 24-0.

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Glendora golf Coach Tim Crowther suffered a fatal heart attack during a round at the Glendora Country Club last Thursday. He was 48. Crowther, a lieutenant with the Glendora Police Department, led the Tartans to the Baseline League title last season, ending La Verne Damien’s streak of 15 consecutive titles.