City Section

Friday, Dec. 12

City Section Finals

At The Coliseum

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Carson 30, Venice 20
Carson continued a bewildering trend in the City Section championship game, soundly defeating Venice to win its 11th section title.

Carson’s performance reinforced the notion that it is tough to defeat a strong team twice. Venice, which defeated Carson, 34-14, in a season opener, became the sixth team in seven years to lose in a title-game rematch.

Venice (13-1) rolled through the regular season undefeated and had pummeled three playoff opponents but it met its match in its first-ever championship game.

Carson got a brilliant performance by quarterback Bo Napoleon, then rode its defense in the second half.

After taking a 24-14 lead on a 23-yard field goal by Javier Vera, the Colts (11-3) extended their advantage in the third quarter with the game’s decisive play.

Venice was forced to punt deep in its own territory after Justin Wilson pressured Venice quarterback Beau Davis into a 17-yard loss and an illegal downing of the ball. On the next play, Sinapati Uiagalelei blocked Darko Dogic’s punt and Lamar Brumfield pounced on the ball in the end zone for a 30-14 lead.

Napoleon completed eight of 15 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown for Carson. Robert Miller rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.

Davis completed 14 of 23 passes for 178 yards for Venice, but was intercepted twice.

Carson had the ball just four times in the first half, but scored on their first three drives.

After forcing a punt on Venice’s opening possession, Carson surprised the Gondoliers by going to the air. Napoleon completed his first pass to favorite target Jordan Fata for 26 yards and later hit Antwan Mahaley for 13 more. Fullback Phillip Knight finished the eight-play, 74-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.

Venice only had the ball for 5 minutes 39 seconds in the opening half but it was enough to show their explosiveness. The Gondoliers’ only drive resulted in a one-yard scoring run by Byron Ellis but kicker Dogic’s extra point was blocked.

Miller gave Carson a 14-6 lead with an eight-yard touchdown run, but Venice quickly bounced back on a stellar 57-yard scoring reception by Gerold Rodriguez with the senior receiver slipping three tackles before running across the field and diving inside the left end zone marker.

Venice got the two-point conversion when Beau Davis connected with Ryan Graves.

Carson went back to Fata, who gave the Colts the halftime lead when he slipped behind Venice’s coverage and hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass.
--Eric Stephens

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Fremont 31, Locke 14
Quarterback Curtis Johnson ran for a touchdown and passed for another and Andre Bouvay ran for 129 yards and a touchdown in leading Fremont to the victory over Locke in the City Section Invitational division championship game at the Coliseum.

Bouvay scored on a 13-yard run to give Fremont a 14-7 lead. The Pathfinders took control of the game when Columbus Davis intercepted a pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown.

Johnson, who threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Thomas Herring earlier in the game, added a one-yard sneak to push the lead to 28-7. Locke (5-9) was led by running Antoine Stokes, who had 142 yards on 23 carries and score both Saint touchdowns.
--Eric Stephens