For Peninsula, It’s Little Things That Count Most

In a Bay League game filled with big plays, two small ones proved the difference as Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula defeated Redondo, 35-33, Friday afternoon at Peninsula.

Erik Lorig blocked a Redondo extra-point attempt midway through the third quarter, then teamed with Frank Bivinetto to stop a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the score at 28-28 with 5 minutes 33 seconds to play.

Instead, Peninsula maintained a 28-26 lead, then extended it to 35-26 on its next play from scrimmage, when Erik Pederson ran 62 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Redondo (7-2 overall, 3-1 in league play) answered on its next drive when Kevin Ellison scored on a 17-yard run to make the score 35-33 with 3:25 left. Two plays later, Julian Reyes recovered a fumble and Redondo took possession at the Peninsula 41 with 2:33 left.

But on fourth and eight from the Peninsula 39, Redondo tried a long pass and defensive back Uzoma Idah knocked it down just before the goal line to preserve the victory and keep Peninsula (8-0-1, 3-0-1) in line for at least a share of the league title.

Pederson finished with 165 yards and three touchdowns in 12 carries for Peninsula, which had a 21-14 halftime lead and extended it to 28-14 when Theo Nikolakopulos scooped up a fumble and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half.

Jordan Tusieseina completed 19 of 20 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns for Redondo. Leonard Hernandez was his favorite target with 10 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns.

Peter Yoon

*

Carson 23, Harbor City Narbonne 14 -- Defensive end David Niko-Auga led a stout defensive effort by Carson (6-3, 4-0) as it shut out the visiting Gauchos in the second half to gain sole possession of first place in the Marine League.

Maintaining a seven-point lead, the Colts made their most important stand early in the fourth quarter after Narbonne (7-2, 3-1) had driven to their six-yard line. On third and five, linebacker Lamar Brumfield sacked Lamont Long for a five-yard loss.

Kicker Oscar DeAlba subsequently missed a 26-yard field-goal attempt. Carson added a safety -- its only points after the first quarter -- when Niko-Auga forced Long to fumble out of his end zone.

Niko-Auga also forced another fumble and had two tackles for a loss, and running back Philip Knight ran for 165 yards in 22 carries.

A victory at San Pedro next week will give Carson its sixth consecutive league title.

“We’ve been playing consistent football for the last three weeks,” Carson Coach Rowen Tupuivao said. “We knew they were going to run the ball at us, so we had to control the line of scrimmage.”

Carson built a 21-7 lead in the first quarter as Dwayne Sanders had a 14-yard scoring run and a 30-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bo Napoleon, who also connected with Antwan Mahaley on a 33-yard scoring play.

Narbonne made it 21-14 on a three-yard run by Travon Titus in the second quarter.

-- Eric Stephens

*

Valencia 42, Canyon Country Canyon 14 -- Sophomore running back Shane Vereen caught touchdown passes of 33 and 66 yards and ran for two scores as Valencia (8-1, 4-0), ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times, clinched at least a share of its first Foothill League championship with a dominating performance against No. 20 Canyon (8-1, 3-1).

Vereen finished with 152 yards rushing in 22 carries and caught six passes for 131 yards. Quarterback Michael Herrick completed 24 of 34 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns.

Valencia, looking like the prime challenger to unbeaten Mission Viejo in the upcoming Southern Section Division II playoffs, scored on its first five possessions to open a 35-0 halftime lead. Herrick passed for 290 yards and all four of his touchdowns in the first half.

Linebacker Anthony Defilippo recorded his 14th sack of the season for Valencia, which is seeking its first outright league title since it started playing varsity football in 1996. Justin Williams scored two touchdowns on one-yard runs for Canyon.

Eric Sondheimer

*

Mission Viejo 48, San Clemente 0 -- The top-ranked Diablos rushed for 248 yards and seven touchdowns in winning their fifth consecutive South Coast League title at Mission Viejo.

Sophomore running back Keegan Gogerty carried 16 times for 115 yards and a touchdown and junior fullback Chane Moline added 97 yards and three touchdowns in 17 carries.

Mission Viejo (9-0, 4-0) took a 2-0 lead when No. 22 San Clemente (7-2, 3-1) snapped the ball out of the back of its end zone on its first possession of the game.

While its defense held the Tritons to two first downs and 35 total yards in the first half, Mission Viejo followed its running game to a 29-0 halftime lead.

Diablo quarterback Mark Sanchez, who has committed to USC, threw the ball only 13 times before leaving the game late in the third quarter with seven completions for 87 yards.

-- Dan Arritt