Marine League teams in City final

Physicality has been the trademark of Marine League football teams for more than three decades in the City Section, whether it was the great Banning teams of the 1970s to the dominant Carson teams of the 1980s or the smash-mouth San Pedro teams of the 1990s.

But something happened this decade. There was a change in the balance of power, with schools from the West Valley and Coliseum leagues using speed and athleticism to win City championships.

This season, the Marine League reasserted itself with a vengeance, and today at the Coliseum, top-seeded Harbor City Narbonne (12-1) will face second-seeded San Pedro (12-1) in a 1 p.m. matchup to decide the City Championship Division title.

Former Carson coach John Aguirre, now a City Section administrator, said the league has been all about toughness. “The Marine League has big kids who are moving pretty fast and that creates some incredible collisions,” he said.

Both schools in today’s championship game have defenses that rely on speed and physical play.

San Pedro hasn’t given up more than one touchdown in a 48-minute game all season.

“It’s probably the best defense we’ve had in 18 years,” said Coach Mike Walsh, whose teams won 4-A titles in 1996 and 1997.

Defensive tackle Alonzo LeFridge has 16 sacks. Senior All-City linebacker Robert Franco has been a standout since his sophomore year. Sophomore linebacker Kris Bass is a star in the making.

Narbonne counters with a defense full of speed and big-play performers. Safety Byron Moore Jr., who has committed to USC, and safety Sean Parker, a heavily recruited junior, form one of the best secondary tandems in the Southland.

These schools fought to a 6-6 tie after regulation Oct. 24 before Narbonne won, 27-24, in triple overtime.

This game could come down to the quarterbacks. Narbonne Coach Manuel Douglas made a strategic decision last season to add the spread offense to take advantage of the running and passing skills of Josh Moten, and it has paid off with Moten passing for more than 2,500 yards this season.

San Pedro attempted only two passes last week in a 27-7 semifinal victory over Woodland Hills Taft, but that doesn’t mean senior quarterback Barry Heads can’t deliver when asked. He has thrown for 1,299 yards and 15 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com