Mack Will Be Coming Back

Ever since he visited the Coliseum to watch USC play California in October, Van Nuys High running back Carlos Mack has been on a mission.

“I’ve been waiting to get back to the Coliseum all season,” he said.

Mack made it a reality in a City Section 3-A Division semifinal Friday night at Palisades High.

He rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries to spark the Wolves to a 30-14 victory over University (7-6).

The Wolves (9-4) will play Wilson for the championship next Friday night at the Coliseum.

It will be the first appearance in a title game for Van Nuys since it tied Canoga Park, 13-13, in 1981.

Van Nuys Coach Mark Pomerantz said he would just as soon forget the last time the Wolves reached the semifinals in 1992, when they suffered a 55-14 loss to Carson in the 4-A.

“That was just a mismatch from the beginning,” Pomerantz said. “This is a much better feeling.”

After taking a 16-14 lead at the half, Van Nuys assumed control in the third quarter behind its ball-control offense and stingy defense. The Wolves held University to 53 yards in the half, 228 in the game.

The Wolves made it 23-14 midway through the third quarter on a one-yard run by Jerry Garcia-Montes that culminated an 82-yard, seven-play drive.

For good measure, Mack added a 14-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter for a 30-14 lead and the Van Nuys defense did the rest.

The game was played on a muddy field, but that never seemed to bother the Wolves.

Van Nuys struck for touchdowns on two of its first three possessions, taking a 16-0 lead.

University pulled within 16-14 at halftime, before Van Nuys put away the Warriors.

“We made a few mistakes on offense, but all in all I can’t complain,” Pomerantz said.