Crenshaw Shakes Off Rust to Win

Crenshaw High feared it might be rusty after sitting idle last week while the rest of the teams in the City Section played. But the Cougars, as usual, appear to have enough playmakers to overcome periods of sluggishness.

Crenshaw showed flashes of brilliance Friday night and that was enough to defeat San Pedro, 26-20, at San Pedro. Quarterback Eric Willcockson led the way for Crenshaw (3-0), which had a scheduled bye last week and had its second game canceled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Willcockson, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior who transferred to Crenshaw from Westchester, completed 20 of 26 passes for 238 yards with a touchdown with no interceptions.

After missing on his first attempt, Willcockson completed 14 consecutive passes, including a 37-yard touchdown pass to Michael Nicholson with 1:30 left in the first half to give the Cougars an 18-6 lead.

“We were kind of wondering if we were going to be sharp,” said Willcockson, who also scored on a one-yard run. “Our running backs, receivers and linemen all did a great job. We just like to mix it up and see what happens.”

San Pedro (1-3), which has lost three consecutive games for the first time since 1991, did a good job neutralizing Crenshaw running back Corey Hudson, limiting the game-breaker to 68 yards in 17 carries. But Hudson returned the second-half kickoff 70 yards to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Ke’Aundre Moore that put the Cougars ahead, 26-6.

San Pedro quarterback Steve Taylor completed 12 of 19 passes for 197 yards with one touchdown. He scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter to make the score 26-13, and completed passes of 25 and 33 yards to set up a nine-yard touchdown run by Kenny Taylor with 2:24 left to pull the Pirates to within six points.

San Pedro recovered the ensuing onside kick, but it had traveled only eight yards, giving Crenshaw the ball. The Cougars then ran out the clock.

Gary Klein

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Chatsworth 28, Sylmar 21--Defensive back Aldo Menjivar sacked Sylmar quarterback Clarence Simpson for a six-yard loss on a fourth-and-goal play from the four-yard line with 2:49 left to help visiting Chatsworth snap an eight-game losing streak to the Spartans in a nonleage game.

Chatsworth (4-0) broke a 21-21 tie on the first play of the fourth quarter when Joudan Leiro turned a short slant pass into a 66-yard touchdown reception.

Sylmar (2-2) had tied the score on an 11-yard touchdown run by Ryen Carew with 1:10 left in the third quarter.

Joe Shumpert, who rushed for 215 yards in 11 carries, scored Chatsworth’s first three touchdowns on runs of 67, 61 and 42 yards.

Daniel Burney of Sylmar rushed for 265 yards in 22 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 76 and 78 yards.

John Ortega

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Woodland Hills Taft 41, San Fernando 7--The Tigers learned you can’t key only on Taft receiver Steve Smith.

Justin Tryon rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns in 26 carries to lift Taft’s offense in a nonleague game at San Fernando.

Tryon scored on runs of one, two, 61 and two yards.

Smith, a junior receiver who had 94 receptions as a sophomore, still had a decent game, finishing with five catches for 65 yards. He also intercepted two passes on defense.

Taft (3-1) held San Fernando (2-2) to 165 yards on offense. Ruben Nevarez completed 12 of 28 passes for 124 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for San Fernando.

Mike Bresnahan

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Bell 31, Franklin 8--Mark Moreno passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns for Bell (3-1). David Serrano returned a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown and scored on a nine-yard pass from Moreno.

Venice 55, Palisades 0--Eddie Miller completed 10 of 21 passes for 202 yards and five touchdowns for Venice (2-2, 2-0) in a Western League game at Palisades.