After His Drop, Howard Picks It Up for Banning

Chris Howard of Wilmington Banning fumbled in his first carry against Crenshaw on Friday and watched his miscue quickly result in a 13-point deficit for the Pilots.

“We were out of sync and had to calm down,” said Howard, a junior running back and defensive back. “I felt I had to do something to make up for the fumble.”

Howard did plenty.

He returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, rushed for 113 yards and another touchdown, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble as Banning defeated the Cougars, 42-19, in a Southern Pacific Conference game at Crenshaw.

Banning (4-3 overall, 3-1 in conference) intercepted four passes and scored 42 unanswered points--21 coming in the final 5:14 of the third quarter--en route to the victory.

The Pilots extended a 21-13 halftime lead with a 65-yard touchdown pass play from Mike Garrison to wide receiver Mike Cockrell, a 28-yard interception return by linebacker Jesse Murillo and an 18-yard touchdown run by Howard.

Murillo also intercepted a pass by Crenshaw quarterback Keenan Carter in the first quarter. The play set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from Garrison to Cockrell that gave Banning a 14-13 lead.

Garrison completed eight of 13 passes for 147 yards with two interceptions. Cockrell had five receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

Crenshaw wide receiver Norman Epps caught seven passes for 176 yards and scored on a 55-yard pass play from Carter on the first possession of the game. But Carter struggled, completing only eight of 30 for 185 yards for Crenshaw (4-3, 3-1).

Banning’s victory jumbles the conference race.

Banning plays San Pedro next Friday and finishes with games against Washington and Carson.

Crenshaw has games remaining against Gardena, Narbonne and Dorsey.

“It’s up for grabs,” Howard said. “Whichever team wants it the most is going to get it.”