Venice Holds Off Franklin, 21-13

In the City Section, Venice was defined for years by its explosive offense, and all the points and big plays culminated in the school’s first championship game appearance last season.

The Gondoliers have a new identity this season, but it still results in victories.

Junior running back Ken Ashley rushed for 126 yards and scored all three touchdowns as Venice advanced in the City Championship division playoffs with a 21-13, first-round win over Los Angeles Franklin on Thursday night at Venice.

Venice (9-2) will play host to Crenshaw in a quarterfinal Wednesday night. It will be a rematch of the Gondoliers’ 53-0 playoff win last season.

Ashley provided the difference on offense as he gave the Gondoliers an early lead with a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown before adding scoring runs of one and six yards. His last touchdown opened an eight-point lead late in the third quarter.

“It was a hard game,” Ashley said. “They’re a tough team. They’re well-coached, and they played their hearts out tonight. It was 48 minutes of football.”

Said Venice Coach Angelo Gasca: “If we’ve got to grind it out, we’ll do it.”

Led by junior defensive linemen Martell Moore and Michael Munoz and senior All-City linebacker Jimmy Miller, the Gondoliers held Northern League co-champion Franklin (9-2) to five first downs and 163 total yards.

Brandon Torres, the Panthers’ 1,000-yard rusher, was held to eight yards in his first five carries, but his 76-yard run through the middle of the Venice defense cut the lead to 14-7 and gave Franklin momentum.

Torres scored the potential tying touchdown on a four-yard run but, Allen Veliz missed the extra-point attempt.

After Ashley scored to give Venice some breathing room, the Gondoliers held Franklin to two first downs and seven yards on its last three possessions. Torres finished with 108 yards in 15 carries.

“We knew it was going to be about field position and possession of the ball,” Franklin Coach Eric Jaimes said. “You’ve got to give it to them, they have great linebackers and a good defense.”

Eric Stephens

*

Sylmar 49, Eagle Rock 7 -- Junior tailback C.J. Gable rushed for 300 yards in 15 carries and broke off touchdown runs of 68, 59 and 56 yards to help the Spartans (9-2) advance to a City quarterfinal game against top-seeded Dorsey.

“The kid does not want to be tackled,” Sylmar Coach London Woodfin said of Gable, who rushed for 167 yards in the first quarter alone while making two interceptions and having a 78-yard interception return nullified because of a penalty.

On the season, Gable has rushed for 1,892 yards. Sylmar, the Valley Mission League champion, finished with 435 yards rushing.

Eagle Rock (8-3) quarterback Jeremy Camacho was sacked five times and limited to 139 yards passing.

Eric Sondheimer

*

L.A. Dorsey 54, San Pedro 15 -- The top-seeded Dons (10-1) rushed for more than 300 yards as Jeremiah Johnson gained 173 yards and scored twice in nine carries and Stafon Johnson gained 118 yards and scored twice in eight carries.

Keith Charles completed six of 12 passes for 118 yards and touchdowns of 10 yards to Jeremiah Johnson and 25 yards to Sidney Avery of 25 yards. San Pedro finished 6-5.

North Hollywood 62, L.A. Westchester 53 -- Marlon Lucky rushed for 303 yards and seven touchdowns, had another touchdown receiving and scored three two-point conversions to finish with a school-record 54 points in an Invitational game.

L.A. Locke 34, Reseda Cleveland 21 -- Jevonte Taylor rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns in 14 carries to lead the Saints (6-5), who rushed for 395 yards, past the host Cavaliers (7-4) in an Invitational game. Julius Killings led Cleveland with 160 yards and one touchdown in 22 carries and had a 32-yard touchdown reception.