Banning Upends Carson

As the losses mounted during their ridiculously rigorous nonleague schedule, Wilmington Banning players were forced to believe that one night all the pounding would be worth it.

All the bumps and bruises, to their bodies and their pride, were a distant memory Friday night after the Pilots won the City Section championship with a 26-10 victory over archrival and defending champion Carson before an estimated 15,000 at the Coliseum.

Banning won its 11th championship, its first since 1985. The Pilots (8-6) now rank second behind Manual Arts, which has won 15.

“Every game we just had to get better,” Banning quarterback Damian Satete said. “We learned from our mistakes, and here we are.”

In the 50th meeting between the Harbor-area rivals, Banning improved its record in the series to 28-22 and improved its record in championship games against the Colts to 6-4.

The victory also avenged a 48-18 Marine League loss to Carson (10-4) on Nov. 8, marking the seventh time in the 10 championship games between the schools that the loser of the regular-season game came back and won the final.

“Last time we played them, we played our worst game,” said Banning Coach Ed Lalau, who was an offensive lineman on Banning’s last championship team. “We came out tonight with a point to prove.”

Banning extended a 13-10 halftime lead when James Carter returned the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. The Pilots scored their final touchdown with 5:03 left on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Satete to Jeff Herrera.

Satete, a sophomore, completed six of 11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Senior fullback Sal Guerrero rushed for 78 yards in 12 carries and sophomore tailback A.J. Tuitele gained 47 yards in 16 carries and scored a touchdown. Tuitele also caught two passes, one on a screen that resulted in a 66-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Carson running back James Robinson gained 118 yards in 16 carries, but Banning kept him out of the end zone.

Carson had outscored its three previous playoff opponents, 101-15, but the Colts struggled against the Pilots.

Twice in the first half, the Pilots stopped Carson when the Colts had first-and-goal situations.

Banning players credited their nonleague schedule for making them tough.

The Pilots lost to 1998 City champion Woodland Hills Taft, ’99 Southern Section Division I co-champion Long Beach Poly and ’99 City finalist Crenshaw before defeating Santa Fe Springs St. Paul. They went into Marine League play coming off a loss to ’99 Southern Section Division I co-champion Santa Ana Mater Dei, then lost to San Pedro in their league opener.

After the San Pedro game, Tuitele was moved from defensive back to running back and the Pilots started to roll, losing only to Carson the rest of the way.

Unlike the regular-season meeting when Carson raced to a 34-0 halftime lead, Banning held Carson mostly in check Friday night.

Banning led, 13-10, at halftime after Carson wasted its two first-and-goal situations.

On the game’s first possession, a 64-yard pass play from Carson quarterback Justin Cooper to Trevion Stephens moved the ball to the Banning eight. But the Pilots stopped Robinson onthird and fourth downs from the one.

Wilfredo Licon’s 34-yard field goal with 4:37 left in the first quarter gave Carson a 3-0 lead before Banning scored twice within a 2 1/2-minute span.

The Pilots appeared to be stalled on the possession after Licon’s field goal, but on a third-and-16 play from his own 34, Tuitele took a screen pass from Satete, and broke two tackles on his way to a 66-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Stephens fumbled and Banning recovered at the Carson 16. Tuitele carried four consecutive times, scoring on a five-yard run with 58 seconds left in the quarter. Jerardo Madrigal’s kick made the score, 13-3.

Carson defensive back Dant’e North turned the momentum when he intercepted a pass by Satete at the Banning 49 only 83 seconds into the second quarter.

The Colts moved the ball to the 31 and faced a fourth and three. Cooper faked a handoff and then sprinted off right tackle into the end zone, pulling Carson to within 13-10.

Carson, however, wasted a chance to take the lead or at least tie after a 50-yard run by Robinson gave the Colts a first and goal at the five. A one-yard loss, an incomplete pass and three consecutive penalties against Carson moved the ball back to the 16.

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PREP FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

City Section, Invitational Division: Gardena 31, Roosevelt 7

Southern Section Division II: Upland 26, Chino 10

Southern Section Division III: Hart 34, Mira Costa 11

Southern Section Division V: Corona Centennial 27, Elsinore 18

Southern Section Division VI: Irvine 14, Newport Harbor 0

Southern Section Division IX: South Hills 19, La Habra 14

Southern Section Division X: Paso Robles 43, Inglewood 40