Crenshaw Defense Unrivaled

Crenshaw High’s defense has forced numerous turnovers and created scoring opportunities throughout the season.

The Cougars displayed their big-play mentality again Friday in a stunningly easy 42-7 Coliseum League victory over rival Dorsey at Crenshaw.

Crenshaw intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble during the third quarter and turned a 10-7 halftime lead into a 35-7 advantage with 9:38 left in the game. Linebackers Carl Johnson and Justin Smith each returned interceptions for touchdowns during the onslaught.

“We pride ourselves on playing that style of defense,” said Crenshaw’s Lee Webb, who wreaked havoc as a linebacker and also gained 61 yards in 11 carries and scored a touchdown as a fullback. “We’re very physical up front and our coaches teach us to break for the ball and hit.”

Crenshaw improved to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in league play. Dorsey (6-2, 2-1), which this week was forced to forfeit a victory to Washington for using an ineligible player, lost on the field for the first time.

“They outplayed us from the first play to the last play,” Dorsey Coach Paul Knox said.

In the first half, it looked as though it would be a typical close Dorsey-Crenshaw battle. Crenshaw led, 3-0, on a 33-yard, first-quarter field goal by Wember Santamaria until Dorsey scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass play from Winford Massey to Javaun Lewis with 40 seconds left in the second quarter.

On the first play of the ensuing possession, Crenshaw quarterback Devin Hollins and Corey Hudson connected on a 51-yard pass play to give Crenshaw a first down at the Dorsey 26. Three plays later, Hollins scrambled for an eight-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead at the break.

Crenshaw wasted no time making the game its own in the second half.

On the second play of the third quarter, Johnson picked off Massey’s quick screen pass to the right side and sprinted 30 yards for a touchdown. The Cougars recovered a fumbled snap two minutes later and Terrence Whitehead’s two-yard run capped a 13-play, 55-yard drive.

On the first play of the next possession, Smith intercepted a quick screen pass to the left and raced 43 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 lead with 2:08 left in the quarter.

Tracy Jones of Crenshaw intercepted a pass 50 seconds later and Webb converted that into a one-yard touchdown run with 9:38 left in the game.

“When it was time to make big plays, our guys stepped up and made them,” said Whitehead, who rushed for 44 yards and two touchdowns.