Jefferson’s Season Passes Screen Test

Jefferson High began the season with high hopes because it returned several key players from a team that finished second in the Coliseum League and advanced to the City Championship playoffs last year.

But after losing its opener to Woodland Hills El Camino Real, the Democrats’ two most versatile players, senior quarterback and defensive back John Brown and senior running back and defensive back Travonne Jackson, suffered leg injuries during the first half of a loss to Woodland Hills Taft. Brown and Jackson did not play in losses against Granada Hills and Gardena and they saw limited action in the 35-21 league-opening loss to unbeaten Fremont last week.

It has been a trying season for Jefferson, and the ups and downs are being chronicled for a documentary that is scheduled to be aired on the A&E; network during the week of the Super Bowl.

Film crews contracted by Studio City-based 44 Blue Productions have been following the players and staffs at Jefferson and Stephenville High in Texas since late summer. The program will explore the differences and common threads shared by students and coaches at under-funded inner-city football programs such as Jefferson, which is located in Watts, and posh suburban football powers such as Stephenville, located about 60 miles west of Fort Worth.

“I’m happy that they chose us because of the things we do here in terms of sportsmanship,” Jefferson Coach Hank Johnson said. “That’s more important than anything. We run a clean program and do things the right way.

“Our kids play hard and they laugh and cry and have problems just like all kids. That’s the message we want to get across.”

The film crew at Jefferson has been given total access to players and coaches on the field, at school, in social situations and at home.

“They’re fixtures now,” Johnson said of the crew. “I think they hurt a little more than the kids and the coaches when we’ve lost.”

With Brown and Jackson back to “about 70% or 80%,” Johnson said, the Democrats are preparing to play Crenshaw (4-0) on Friday at home.

Crenshaw will be without quarterback Eric Willcockson, who suffered a concussion in last week’s 24-20 victory over Dorsey.

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Ready for a run? It took five games and six weeks for defending City champion Wilmington Banning to win its first game. Now that the Pilots (1-4) have a victory--a 21-6 win over Washington--can they repeat the feat of last year, when they started 1-4 before winning their 11th City title?

With A.J. Tuitele now playing running back full-time, the Pilots cannot be dismissed. Tuitele, a junior, gained more than 1,300 yards in nine games last season after he was moved from defensive back to running back in the sixth week. Tuitele primarily has played defensive back this season while nursing an ankle injury, but he rushed for 96 yards in 12 carries during the second half against Washington.

“That’s the first time he has played a complete quarter at running back and he looks like he is healed,” said Banning Coach Ed Lalau, whose team plays Gardena Friday. “He’s the man right now.”

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The real thing? Chatsworth continues to prove its legitimacy as a threat for the West Valley League title and maybe more.

The Chancellors (5-0) earned a nonleague victory over Sylmar two weeks ago and knocked off previously unbeaten Granada Hills, 21-20, in a league game last Friday. Next up is Taft, with El Camino Real on Oct. 26 and unbeaten Birmingham on Nov. 2. The Chancellors have been led by running back Jo Shumpert, who rushed for 136 yards against Granada Hills and set up the winning touchdown with a 62-yard halfback-option pass and an 18-yard run.

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In the race: The Eastern League once again is living up to its reputation for being one of the most balanced leagues in the section. Roosevelt (5-0), South Gate (1-4) and Bell (3-2) were thought to be the favorites, but Jordan (2-2) and Garfield (3-2) put themselves in the thick of the race with victories in league openers last week.

Jordan defeated Bell, 21-20, behind running back Dell Hester and the Bulldogs are gearing up for Friday’s showdown at Roosevelt, which is coming off a 21-12 victory over South Gate. Garfield beat Huntington Park, 28-7, and plays host to Bell Friday.

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Oh, brother: The Atlanta Falcons miss the presence of injured running back Jamal Anderson, but El Camino Real has benefited. Jamal Anderson has been at the Conquistadores’ last two games to watch younger brother Jazen, a 6-0, 200-pound senior who has responded with 200-yard rushing performances each time.

Two weeks ago, Jazen gained 200 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 50-29 victory over Calabasas. Last week, he gained 223 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 32-14 victory over Reseda Cleveland.

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City top 10: 1. Carson (5-0); 2. Crenshaw (4-0); 3. Van Nuys Birmingham (5-0); 4. Fremont (5-0); 5. Westchester (4-1); 6. Chatsworth (5-0); 7. Harbor City Narbonne (2-3); 8. Granada Hills (4-1); 9. Woodland Hills Taft (3-2); 10. Roosevelt (5-0).