Frustrated Ward quits at Dominguez

Tired of rarely being able to coach his team, Cornell Ward quit as Compton Dominguez High’s football coach Friday night following the Dons’ fourth consecutive loss to start the season.

Because of difficulty commuting from his job as a youth minister near USC, Ward said he had not attended practice since the week before Dominguez’s season opener. He didn’t arrive at the host Dons’ 25-6 loss to Redlands East Valley on Friday until game time.

“I was just doing the kids a disservice,” he said Saturday.

Ward said he had been told that he would have an opportunity to obtain a job on the Dominguez campus when he accepted the coaching position last month, but the job never materialized.

Ward took time off from work to attend practice the week of the Dons’ 24-21 loss to St. George (Utah) Pine View on Aug. 30 but had been able to make only games after that.

“It’s a sad situation, but Dominguez will bounce back,” said Ward, whose team has only four returning players from last season.

Special teams coach Jose Rosa will be the interim coach, Ward said, with longtime coach Willie Donerson returning on a volunteer basis. The Dons play at Lawndale Leuzinger (2-1) on Friday.

Nunes changes tune

Upland’s Josh Nunes won’t be singing “Rocky Top” next year after all.

The highly touted quarterback released a statement Saturday afternoon saying he had switched his commitment from Tennessee to Stanford after the Cardinal made an unexpected scholarship offer.

“I would like to apologize to the University of Tennessee as I had mistakenly thought that I would not have an opportunity to play at Stanford,” Nunes said. “ . . . I believe that I have to follow my heart.”

Upstarts

After enduring a state-record 49-game losing streak spanning five years, Pomona Ganesha has won twice in the last three weeks. The Giants defeated La Puente Bassett, 27-14, Friday.

“We think we’ve got more wins coming,” Coach David Fleming said.

Fleming credited a strong senior class that includes vocal leader Chris Cruz, a guard and defensive end, and tailback Julian Garcia, a converted quarterback who rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown against Bassett.

Repeat the feat

Anaheim Magnolia running back Robert Cruz is stuck on a number, 343.

The 5-foot-9, 176-pound senior rushed for 343 yards Friday in a 58-14 victory over Costa Mesa Estancia, two weeks after rushing for the same yardage against Anaheim Katella.

Trojans watch

Woodland Hills Taft’s D.J. Morgan ran for 254 yards in 12 carries to lead the Toreadors to a 34-0 victory over Lancaster.

Bruins watch

Mission Viejo receiver Alex Mascarenas had six catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-20 victory over Vista.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com