Crenshaw Holds Its Ground

Year in and year out, Crenshaw’s football team is known for playing tough defense.

The Cougars displayed that Friday afternoon in their Coliseum League opener against Jefferson, intercepting four passes and holding the Democrats to 72 yards in a 41-14 victory at Crenshaw.

Led by defensive linemen Brandon Mebane and Jamal Scott and linebackers Aaron Huntley, Solomon Eliminian and Brandon Turner, Crenshaw held Jefferson to minus 14 yards rushing and no offensive touchdowns.

“We’re just starting to come around defensively, especially after holding San Pedro to one touchdown last week,” said Daymeion Hughes, who had two interceptions and held Jefferson’s Gary White to one catch for five yards.

Jefferson (3-3, 0-1) stunned the Cougars when Travis Lee returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Good fortune smiled on the Cougars (3-3, 1-0) when Christopher Porter recovered quarterback Andrew Simpson’s fumble in the end zone to tie the score, 6-6.

Then right before halftime, Crenshaw marched 71 yards in 10 plays. Fullback Dary Adway scored on a one-yard run to finish the drive with four seconds left in the second quarter. Adway added an eight-yard touchdown run in the second half and finished with 53 yards.

Thompson, moved to running back in last week’s 7-6 loss to San Pedro, led the Cougars with 132 yards in 24 carries, including an eight-yard run to finish the scoring.

Simpson completed 12 of 22 passes for 146 yards.

Jefferson’s other touchdown came on a 72-yard kickoff return by Lee.

Eric Stephens

Roosevelt 41, Jordan 12 -- Zach Owens rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and the Rough Riders held host Jordan to 19 first-half yards in the Eastern League opener for both teams.

Jordan (3-3, 0-1) pulled to within 20-12 midway through the third quarter on a two-yard run by quarterback Naquan Walker. Walker was sacked four times thereafter and finished with minus 44 yards in 16 carries.

Owens scored his second touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run with 3:48 left in the third quarter and capped his efforts with a 14-yard scoring run with 7:55 left for a 35-12 lead.

Jody Adewale and Chris Hurtido each rushed for 137 yards and one touchdown for Roosevelt (5-1, 1-0), which outgained the Bulldogs, 358 yards to 32, on the ground.

Mayar Zokaei

Gardena 29, San Pedro 20 -- LaFerrell Payne rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown in 12 carries to lead host Gardena (4-2, 1-0) to a Marine League victory over the Pirates (3-3, 0-1). Oscar Cervantes kicked field goals of 40, 33 and 30 yards.