Banning-Carson Game Will Affect Playoffs

For the first time in several years, the annual football game between Carson and Banning on Friday night carries significant importance to league and City Section championship races.

Carson (7-2) defeated San Pedro last week to improve to 4-0 in the Marine League. Banning (4-4) and San Pedro (7-2) are 3-1.

If Carson wins Friday, the Colts win the league and will be one of the top three seeded teams in the Championship Division playoffs. Banning, which played one of the toughest preleague schedules in the Southland, would finish with a losing record and might be relegated to the Invitational Division playoffs.

But if Banning wins and San Pedro defeats Narbonne, there will be a three-way tie for first place and all three teams would go the Championship playoffs.

Carson last won a City title in 1993. Banning won its last title in 1985.

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Ebony Hoffman, a senior frontcourt player for the girls’ basketball team at Harbor City Narbonne High, has signed a letter of intent to play for USC.

Monday was the first day of the early signing period, which lasts one week.

The sports not included in the early signing period are football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s water polo and women’s volleyball.

Hoffman is the top player for a Gaucho team that is ranked No. 1 in several national preseason polls.

Hoffman said she chose USC after also visiting Tennessee, UCLA and Ohio State.

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Friday’s nonleague intersectional football game between Palisades and Kilpatrick features the state’s leading passer and rusher.

Palisades quarterback David Koral has benefited from the shovel pass to accrue 3,223 yards.

Kilpatrick running back Jermaine Marshall has gained 2,530 yards in 188 carries playing in the Southern Section Division XII Alpha League.