Dorsey Regroups for Expected Run at Title

As City Section football teams return to play this week, players and coaches are once again focusing on their roads to the championship game.

For Los Angeles Dorsey, expected by many to contend for its first title since 1995, the journey was supposed to include a challenging intersectional route that included two games against Oakland schools before Coliseum League play began. Last week’s game at Oakland McClymonds was canceled in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. But the Dons play host Friday to Arroyo Grande and Oakland Skyline on Oct. 5.

“We didn’t actively seek intersectional games, but we were looking for some strong teams to fill our schedule,” Dorsey Coach Paul Knox said. “The games with the Oakland schools just kind of came together and Arroyo Grande is a good program.”

Dorsey looks strong as well. The Dons defeated Sylmar, 24-6, in their opener Sept. 7 with a dynamic running game and stellar defense. Jermaine Moore rushed for 207 yards and Melvin Pettis added 101 yards for the Dons. Dorsey shut down Sylmar for minus-16 yards in the final three quarters.

“We played really well on defense after the first quarter,” Knox said. “We did a pretty good job offensively up front and our backs had a big day once we got moving. But we have to get our passing game up to par to be more balanced.”

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Very inter-esting: City teams are 5-7 against Southern Section opponents this season. There are nine intersectional games this week, highlighted by Harbor City Narbonne (1-0) at Long Beach Poly (1-0), Arroyo Grande (2-0) at Dorsey (1-0) and Alhambra (2-0) at Los Angeles Wilson (1-0).

Toughening up: Narbonne was scheduled to play last week against Los Angeles Loyola (1-0), the Southern Section Division I runner-up, before Friday’s game against two-time defending Southern Section Division I champion Long Beach Poly.

When the Loyola game was canceled, Narbonne did not miss a beat. With an open date in Week 5, the Gauchos agreed to travel to powerful Clovis West the week before their Marine League opener against Carson.

Patriot games: Game cancellations last week prevented Van Nuys Birmingham from possibly announcing its arrival as a legitimate contender for its first City title since 1963.

The Patriots, coming off a 55-0 victory over Canoga Park, were scheduled to play San Pedro, which almost annually goes deep into the playoffs. A victory over the Pirates would have demonstrated that Birmingham could play with teams from the rugged Marine and Coliseum leagues.

Inspiring effort: Coach Armando Gonzalez of Highland Park Franklin was especially moved by the tragedy at the World Trade Center in New York last week.

Gonzalez coached at Franklin for nine years before leaving after the 1983 season to work as a firefighter for the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Gonzalez spent two years as a firefighter before returning to teaching and coaching at Franklin.

“I told our players last week to think about all those people who lost their lives and those who also died trying to save them,” Gonzalez said. “The heroism the firefighters and others displayed should inspire us all.”

City top 10: 1. Carson (1-0); 2. Dorsey (1-0); 3. Wilmington Banning (0-1); 4. San Pedro (1-0); 5. Van Nuys Birmingham (1-0); 6. Los Angeles Crenshaw (1-0); 7. Westchester (0-1); 8. San Fernando (1-0); 9. Narbonne (1-0); 10. Franklin (1-0).