Granada Hills Makes Pass at Carson but Falls

For three quarters, Granada Hills High’s passing attack left Carson defensive backs so confused they looked like chickens running around with their heads cut off.

“They must have looked a lot at our films and found our weaknesses,” safety Josh Ramirez of Carson said.

Using a five-receiver, no-back formation, Granada Hills and quarterback Jason Winn were in position with 10 minutes left to score the go-ahead touchdown and inflict a possible fatal blow on the top-seeded Colts.

Then, out of nowhere, Ramirez intercepted Winn’s pass on the Carson two-yard line, changing the game and enabling the Colts (10-2) to come away with a 28-17 victory Wednesday night in a City Championship quarterfinal game at Veterans Stadium.

Winn, Granada Hills’ all-time passing leader, was so distraught afterward he refused to talk to reporters.

In defeat, he earned more than a few admirers, completing 22 of 37 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns.

“He was good,” Ramirez said. “I hope to see him in the pros and say I played against him. He was the best quarterback we faced all year.”

After a 14-14 halftime tie, Carson took the second-half kickoff and moved 66 yards on eight plays--all runs. The Colts’ huge offensive line, they would finish with 356 yards rushing, started dominating the Highlanders and James Robinson’s 15-yard run gave Carson a 21-14 lead.

Winn drove the Highlanders (9-3) back downfield, settling for a 25-yard field goal by Tommy Garagliano.

Then the Highlanders got the break they needed when cornerback David Harvey made his second interception of the game, picking off Justin Cooper’s pass at the Highlander 48.

Granada Hills’ drive seemed to stall when Winn threw an incomplete pass on fourth and 17 from the 36 but a roughing the passer penalty put the ball on the Carson 21. That’s when Ramirez came through with his interception.

“The primary guy was covered, so he was looking for the secondary guy and he was covered, too,” co-coach Tom Harp of Granada Hills said.

Added Ramirez: “It was actually blown coverage. Coach always said if there’s a scramble, pick up the open man. Lucky I did.”

Winn completed passes to seven receivers and survived several painful hits by Carson defenders. He was sacked five times, three in the second half. Winn completed 14 of 22 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Garagliano gave the Highlanders a 7-0 first-quarter lead with a 38-yard touchdown reception.

Carson tied it, 7-7, on a 54-yard run by Trevion Stephens on an inside reverse.

The Highlanders regained the lead in the second quarter on Winn’s six-yard touchdown pass to Omari Mack. The key play on a 33-yard drive was Carlos Galindo recovering teammate Eric Farlow’s fumble on the one-yard line after a 30-yard pass play.

Stephens tied the game just before halftime with an 11-yard touchdown run. Carson set up the score with an interception by Michael Jones-Crowder.

* PRAYER ANSWERED: Palisades High scored on a 31-yard pass play with six seconds left to defeat Chatsworth, 49-42, in a City Invitation quarterfinal game. Page 10

* PLAYERS SUSPENDED: Thirteen Fontana High football players were suspended from school following a violent incident with Loyola last week at Pierce College. Page 13