Major Adjustment Was Key

In the strictest sense, something is different about the Crenshaw High football team this season.

It is not readily apparent by watching the Cougars. They still play with the fluid but punishing style that has characterized Robert Garrett’s teams in his 14 seasons as coach.

But it’s clear when Cougar assistant coaches talk about Garrett that something has changed.

“First of all, when I played, he was strict, strict, strict,” said Eric Scott, a former Crenshaw standout who played at Northwestern and UCLA.

In a separate interview, assistant Luther Waters described the old Garrett this way: “Strict, strict, strict.”

Garrett is still a disciplinarian. But with an enthusiastic staff of eight assistants, a luxury that has been years in the making, he has let go a little and Crenshaw players have responded with one of the Cougars’ best seasons.

Tonight at the Coliseum, Crenshaw (11-2) will try to win its first Major Division title when it plays top-seeded Carson (11-2).

Kickoff is at 8, or shortly after the conclusion of the 5 p.m. Invitational Division final between Wilmington Banning (8-4) and Gardena (9-3-1).

Both games will be televised live by KLCS, Channel 58.

Garrett acknowledges that his assistants have provided a buffer between him and his players.

“In the past, [my attitude with players was], ‘If it doesn’t work and you don’t want to do it--you don’t have to. You can hit the door and hit the road and be gone,’ ” Garrett said. “Now there’s someone who can say [to the player], ‘Oh, he doesn’t really mean that. I played for him and he did the same thing to me. He talks a good talk, but he means well.’

“I don’t mind being the bad guy, the S.O.B., so to speak. [The assistants] role is different. I don’t want them to be the bad guy.”

Scott, who has a master’s degree in social welfare, said Garrett is not as cantankerous as he sometimes appears.

“Once you get to know him, he’s a big teddy bear on the inside,” Scott said. “If you didn’t know that, you’d think he was mean as hell. He’s still a disciplinarian--we’re the compromise.”

Crenshaw did not begin its season looking like a finalist.

The Cougars lost their opener to Westchester, then beat Carson, 18-7, with the help of eight Carson turnovers.

The next week, Crenshaw produced one of the most noteworthy victories in intersectional history when the Cougars forced seven turnovers and defeated perennial Southern Section power Loyola, 7-6.

“That was big time,” Garrett said. “That was a moral victory for the City [Section], a moral victory for our league, a moral victory for our community, for the L.A. City Coaches Assn.--for everyone.”

Just when it seemed Crenshaw was the team to beat, the Cougars lost to San Pedro, 24-7.

But that was the last time they faltered.

Crenshaw blitzed through the Coliseum League, the highlight a 42-7 rout of rival Dorsey.

Crenshaw opened the playoffs as the third-seeded team behind Carson and Franklin and defeated Bell, Granada Hills Kennedy and San Pedro.

Fullback-linebacker Lee Webb, receiver-defensive back Terrence Whitehead and quarterback Devin Hollins are only a few of the standouts who have displayed a knack for converting opponents’ mistakes into touchdowns.

Crenshaw faces a Carson team that most expected to be playing for its first championship since 1994.

From the day last February when John Aguirre was named Carson’s coach, opposing coaches tabbed Carson as a favorite to win the title.

Aguirre, building on a solid foundation started by predecessor Steve Robinson, had made Garfield into a consistent winner from 1992 to ‘96, reaching the 1993 and 1996 4-A semifinals with small, well-disciplined teams.

He was defensive coordinator at La Puente Bishop Amat in 1997 and ’98 before applying for the Carson job.

The Colts finished 5-6 last season under Mike Sakurai.

“I knew he would come in with some discipline,” Garrett said. “I knew from last season that the Carson kids were talented, they were big and they played hard. [Aguirre’s style] may be the ingredient they were missing.”

Carson lost only to Crenshaw and defending Southern Section Division II champion Diamond Bar. The Colts won the title in the tough Marine League and have defeated North Hollywood, Granada Hills and Dorsey in the playoffs.

Running backs Wendell Hunter, Trevion Stephens and James Robinson lead Carson’s effective rushing attack. Linebackers Hunter and Ashley Subingsubing anchor the defense.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

High School Football Playoffs

CITY SECTION

Finals, tonight’s schedule

MAJOR DIVISION

Carson (11-2) vs. Crenshaw (11-2) at Coliseum, 8.

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Banning (8-4) vs. Gardena (9-3-1) at Coliseum, 5.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Finals, tonight and Saturday’s schedules

All games 7:30 unless indicated

DIVISION I

Long Beach Poly (13-0) vs. Mater Dei (11-2), Saturday at Edison Field

DIVISION II

Diamond Bar (13-0) vs. Upland (12-1), tonight at Cal State Fullerton

DIVISION III

Hart (13-0) vs. Valencia (10-3), Saturday at College of the Canyons

DIVISION IV

Westlake (12-1) vs. San Luis Obispo (12-1), tonight at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

DIVISION V

Rancho Cucamonga (10-3) vs. Paloma Valley (12-1), tonight at Chaffey College

DIVISION VI

Irvine (10-2-1) vs. Newport Harbor (12-0-1), tonight at Orange Coast College

DIVISION VII

Charter Oak (13-0) vs. Los Altos (12-1), Saturday at Citrus College

DIVISION VIII

Bloomington (10-3) at Barstow (12-1), Saturday

DIVISION IX

Bonita (13-0) vs. Brea Olinda (12-0-1), tonight at Mt. San Antonio College

DIVISION X

Monrovia (12-1) vs. Paso Robles (11-2), tonight at Citrus College

DIVISION XI

St. Bonaventure (13-0) vs. Nordhoff (11-2), Saturday at Ventura High, 7 p.m.

DIVISION XII

Paraclete (10-3) vs. Kilpatrick (9-4), Saturday at Antelope Valley College

DIVISION XIII

Pasadena Poly (10-2) vs. Arrowhead Christian (7-5), Saturday at South Pasadena High