Crenshaw Carries Day Behind Line

Momentarily stunned by a long touchdown to open the game, Los Angeles Crenshaw still had more than 47 minutes left in the game to assert itself against L.A. Fremont. The Cougars did just that.

Crenshaw got big performances from Rickie Collins and Aaron Huntley and a dominant effort by its offensive line in rallying for a 19-17 victory in a Coliseum League game Friday at Fremont.

Collins rushed for 157 yards in 23 carries and scored two touchdowns while Huntley had 129 yards in 17 carries. Led by the two bruising tailbacks, the Cougars (6-1, 2-0) gained 255 of their 322 offensive yards on the ground and withstood three lost fumbles. The line helped control the ball for 31 minutes.

“When we’re both running low to the ground, I definitely think teams are scared to tackle us,” Huntley said. “If our running game is going well, we’ll definitely be all right.”

Crenshaw stayed exclusively on the ground for its final 28 plays. Collins gave the Cougars their first lead at 12-10 with a four-yard run to cap an eight-play, 53-yard drive in the third quarter.

Fremont (5-1-1, 1-1) could manage little offensively after shocking Crenshaw with a 60-yard scoring pass play from Curtis Johnson to Danny Williams on the first play of the game. Lorenzo Bernal kicked a 31-yard field goal and Andre Bouvay had a four-yard touchdown run with 3:05 remaining after Thomas Herring recovered a Cougar fumble. The Pathfinders never had another chance to score as Crenshaw recovered the onside kick and got a first down to run out the clock.

Fremont Coach Pete Duffy said the Cougars’ size advantage took its toll.

“They were just too physical,” Duffy said. “When you’re bigger and more physical, you push people around.”

Collins gave the Cougars a 19-10 lead in the fourth quarter when he broke through the Fremont line for a 31-yard scoring run.

“I don’t know if we wore them down but our offensive line allowed Aaron and Rickie to do what they do,” Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett said.

-- Eric Stephens

Van Nuys Grant 37, North Hollywood 33 -- Anthony Dickson ran 19 times for 248 yards and three touchdowns, including a decisive 78-yard scoring run with 1:32 left, to lift the Lancers to a Sunset League victory at North Hollywood.

Marlon Lucky ran 34 times for 336 yards and all five North Hollywood touchdowns, including a two-yard score midway through the first quarter to give the Huskies (3-3-1, 1-1) their only lead, 7-0.

Grant (4-3, 2-0) scored 19 unanswered points, culminated by a 22-yard interception return by Phillip Garrett with 7:54 left in the third quarter, and extended their lead to 31-19 with 7:23 remaining on a 60-yard run by Dickson.

Craig Alexander intercepted two passes and Deshawn Smith completed 12 of 18 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns for Grant.

-- Mayar Zokaei