Carson Benefits From Comforts of the Road

Carson High is on the road again, heading to Fontana A.B. Miller on Friday for its third consecutive game as the visitor.

Carson (2-0), with newly installed lights on campus, was scheduled to play its first night home game against Woodland Hills Taft on Sept. 14, but that game was canceled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Having already made trips to Long Beach Jordan and Granada Hills Kennedy this season, third-year Carson Coach John Aguirre said one more bus ride is no problem. The Colts will play Locke at home on Oct. 5.

“When we travel we feel normal,” said Aguirre, who guided the Colts to the City Section championship in 1999 and the final in 2000. “The schedule and timing of everything is geared toward traveling. At home, we’re going to have so much time, we’re not going to know what do with ourselves.”

Despite losing several key players from last season, including running back James Robinson and quarterback Justin Cooper, the Colts are thriving. Carson has rushed for more than 600 yards and is playing solid defense.

Senior Marcus McCall and juniors Kevin McCall, Brandon Miles and Josh Ford are among a new corps of talented running backs.

“Our work ethic is a lot better this year,” Aguirre said. “It’s a different mind-set--they’re pushing for more.

“Last year we were pretty good but we were lacking a little bit in mental approach and attitude toward success. These kids are a little more humble.”

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Left out: The cancellation of games in Week 2 has proven especially problematic for Crenshaw.

The Cougars (2-0) recorded impressive victories over Taft and Wilmington Banning, but they have an open date this week and will play only eight games during the regular season. Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett has been trying to find an opponent since May when a hoped-for Week 4 game at home against San Pedro was moved to Week 5 at San Pedro.

Huntington Park and Los Angeles also had open dates, but they decided to play each other Friday.

“Everyone else is getting better even if they win, lose or draw because they are getting a chance to compete,” Garrett said. “I don’t know if it will take away from the intensity and our execution. I hope not, but we’ll see.”

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Ready or not: While virtually every other team in the section has two more games before starting league play, Western League competition begins Friday. Fairfax (2-0), with victories over Jordan and Sun Valley Poly, is the only unbeaten team. The Lions play Venice (0-2), which lost to Harbor City Narbonne and Santa Monica.

Westchester (1-1) plays Hamilton (0-2) and University (1-1) plays Palisades (1-1) in other openers. Los Angeles (1-1) plays Huntington Park (1-1) in a nonleague game.

Next in line: The last two quarterbacks who started for Taft earned scholarships to NCAA Division I schools. Brandon Hance plays for Purdue and Rick Clausen is at Louisiana State. Junior Cary Dove might follow in their footsteps.

Dove, making his second start, completed 15 of 21 passes Friday for a school-record 401 yards in a 41-3 victory over Jefferson.

“I don’t feel any pressure following those guys,” Dove said. “I just try to keep my cool and stay calm and collected.

“The first game [a 21-14 loss to Crenshaw], I was kind of nervous, but the second game, I just told myself, ‘This isn’t too far from playing on the [junior varsity].’ That helped me relax and know I can do this.”

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Back in action: Running back Kevin McCleary of Van Nuys Birmingham (2-0) will play Friday against San Fernando (2-0) after missing the Patriots’ first two games because of a suspension.

McCleary, who gained 1,368 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in 2000, had been suspended for three games for fighting on campus. The Patriots, however, did not play their second game against San Pedro after the terrorist attacks. Birmingham administrators cleared McCleary to play against San Fernando because he would have returned this week if the three games had been played as scheduled.

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City top 10: 1. Carson (2-0); 2. Crenshaw (2-0); 3. Dorsey (1-1); 4. Birmingham (2-0); 5. Fremont (2-0); 6. Westchester (1-1); 7. San Pedro (1-1); 8. San Fernando (2-0); 9. Taft (1-1) 10. Franklin (2-0).