Peninsula Slows Culver City’s Rise

Palos Verdes Peninsula High could have scored a touchdown from the three-yard line in the final seconds of its Bay League game against Culver City on Friday, but Panther Coach Gary Kimbrell chose the classy route and had his team run out the clock.

It was a respectful way for perennial power Peninsula to end a hard-fought 24-14 homecoming victory against a Culver City team that formally announced its arrival as a competitive program.

Culver City, which had a 1-9 record last season, had won four of its first five games under new Coach Tom Salter, who guided La Puente Bishop Amat to the 1995 Division I title and to the semifinals in 1997 and ’98. Peninsula (6-0), the 1997 Division II champion, was the first major test for the Centaurs.

“We knew they were going to be tough,” said Peninsula running back Brandon Miyoshi, who gained 135 yards in 15 carries and scored on runs of nine and 29 yards in the third quarter. “We knew they had a coach with a winning background and we thought they would play like a whole new team. And they did.”

Peninsula scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to turn a 3-0 halftime lead into a 24-7 advantage.

Fullback Jeff Walker’s 42-yard run on Peninsula’s first possession of the second half put the ball at the Culver City 27. Miyoshi carried for 18 yards on the next play and followed with his nine-yard scoring run for a 10-0 lead with 7:11 left in the third quarter.

After a Culver City punt, Peninsula’s next possession began at the Centaurs’ 38. Miyoshi took a handoff on the second play and ran off left tackle to the sideline, then cut back across the field and finished a 29-yard touchdown run in the right corner of the end zone to increase the lead to 17-0 with 4:02 left in the quarter.

Culver City pulled to within 17-7 on a six-yard touchdown run by Devaughn Wallace less than a minute later, but a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brian Smith to tight end Blake Paullin with 1:26 left in the quarter put Peninsula ahead, 24-7.

Chris Beal gained 119 yards and Walker finished with 91 for Peninsula.