Fremont Controls Coliseum

Executing its ball-control offense nearly to perfection, Fremont kept its perfect record intact with an emotional 27-19 victory over previously unbeaten Crenshaw in a Coliseum League game Friday night at Fremont.

Fremont improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in league play by handing the Cougars their first defeat in league play since the current Coliseum alignment was formed in 1999. The Pathfinders can clinch the title next week with a victory over Dorsey.

Crenshaw can earn a share of the title if the Cougars defeat Locke and Dorsey defeats Fremont.

Fremont players, however, do not intend to leave any room for doubt.

“We showed them what a real team is all about,” said Fremont’s Keyon Brown, who rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown and also played linebacker. “Tell everybody, Fremont is for real.”

Fremont did not commit a turnover and kept the ball out of Crenshaw’s hands by eating up large chunks of time with long, methodical drives.

“They were running the ball and getting five yards a pop every time,” Crenshaw defensive back Bryant Thompson said.

Crenshaw (6-1, 3-1) lost two fumbles and had two passes intercepted by Fremont’s Milvon James, who also rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown in 16 carries.

Fremont trailed, 13-6, at halftime, and did not attempt a pass until the third quarter. But quarterback Abe Escobar and wide receiver Mark Bradford proved a formidable combination once Fremont went to the air.

Escobar completed five of nine passes for 91 yards, with all five completions going to Bradford, including a five-yard touchdown pass with 5:15 left in the third quarter that pulled the Pathfinders to within 13-12.

Crenshaw’s Patrick Owens fumbled after making a nice return on the ensuing kickoff, and Fremont used a six-play drive to take a 20-13 lead on James’ one-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass from Escobar to Bradford.

Crenshaw got to within 20-19 on a 16-yard touchdown run by Daymeion Hughes with two seconds left in the third quarter, but Hughes was stopped trying to rush for the two-point conversion.

The Cougars fumbled with 6:01 left, setting up an 18-yard drive by Fremont that Brown capped with three-yard touchdown run with 3:46 left.