Terrell Watson has Oxnard grounded

In looking for possible challengers to unbeaten Gardena Serra in the Western Division, one intriguing team is Oxnard (5-1), led by running back Terrell Watson.

Watson, aided by a huge offensive line, has rushed for 1,523 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. He’s a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior whose lowest rushing total in six games has been 169 yards.

“He runs hard and doesn’t let one guy bring him down,” Coach Mark Beckham said.

Even more important, Oxnard’s offense takes huge chunks of time off the clock, leaving opponents in trouble if they don’t take advantage of their few opportunities to score.

The offensive line has been a big reason for Watson’s success. All are seniors in helping Oxnard win five consecutive games since an opening loss to unbeaten Westlake Village Westlake. Even in that game, Watson rushed for 240 yards, and Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said, “He’s a stud.”

Watson rushed for 356 yards last week against Oxnard Rio Mesa and he had 295 yards against Ventura.

Last season, Oxnard was in the Northern Division, where Westlake went 14-0. Moving to the Western with Serra, which went 15-0 last season and is 6-0 this season, doesn’t mean it will be any easier.

“I don’t know what is the lesser of two evils,” Beckham said.

The Mustang Man

Joe Hernandez decided to help out, and the Covina Northview High baseball program couldn’t be more grateful.

Hernandez, who restores old cars for a living, donated a 1966 Mustang, which is valued between $40,000 and $50,000, and it is being raffled off to raise funds so the school can purchase a synthetic turf infield on its diamond.

“It’s unbelievable,” Coach Darren Murphy said. “Those of us are still in shock.”

For $20 a ticket, people can participate in the raffle, with a drawing to take place Jan. 8.

Hernandez has a shop in Azusa. The baseball program had a car show that he participated in, paying $25 to show off his car. Then he was told how the program was raising funds for a new field and as quick as it takes to start the Mustang, he donated the car.

“I said, ‘Hey, take my Mustang.’ I always said I was going to help the community,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez played football and ran track at Gladstone High and remembers wearing worn-out jerseys.

“I grew up in the neighborhood,” he said.

He made a lot baseball players at Northview very happy, and some lucky person is going to get a tangerine orange Mustang for cheap.

Battle of unbeatens

Who would have thought that this late in the season, Reseda (6-0) and Hollywood (6-0) would be unbeaten and playing each other in a nonleague game Friday at Reseda?

“We’re excited,” Hollywood Coach Ceasar Sandoval said.

The game features two athletic, improving junior quarterbacks.

Hollywood’s Jeremi Ross has passed for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for more than 600 yards and three touchdowns. Reseda’s Kwamhe Davis is completing 69% of his passes.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com