Two touchdowns in first half help Crenshaw defeat Dorsey
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- Crenshaw defeats Dorsey 12-8 in Coliseum League opener behind two first-half touchdowns, including a 25-yard interception return.
- Coach Robert Garrett misses his first Dorsey-Crenshaw game since 1988 due to administrative leave, with assistants leading the team.
- Victory moves Garrett closer to 300 career victories as City Section’s winningest coach, though timeline for his return remains uncertain.
With Dorsey grad Mustard providing a rousing halftime concert aided by a Super Bowl-like sound system and Nike supplying players with much-appreciated sports apparel, the rivalry football game between host Crenshaw and Dorsey on Friday night was both loud and hip. The school colors blue and green were worn proudly by both sides.
On the field, Crenshaw (5-1) came away with a 12-8 victory on the strength of a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kyion Rattler and a 20-yard touchdown reception by Deance’ Lewis, both in the first half, for a 12-0 halftime lead.
Lewis provided a spark with big catch after big catch from quarterback Danniel Flowers. Lewis had five receptions for 77 yards.
This was a Coliseum League opener to determine which team might be able to give King/Drew competition for first place. Dorsey (2-4) hadn’t scored in its previous two games before Makhi McCluster ran three yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter.
Absent was Crenshaw coach Robert Garrett, who missed his first Dorsey-Crenshaw game since he took over as head coach in 1988. Garrett is on administrative leave, receiving full pay and assigned to home. He went to Friday’s Sierra Canyon-Gardena Serra game in Chatsworth to watch a couple of players on both teams with Crenshaw ties, including the brother of former Crenshaw standout De’Anthony Thomas.
Garrett’s longtime assistants have been running the team, with Terrence Whitehead the interim coach.
“We miss him so much,” Lewis said of Garrett, who prepared the team through the summer. “That’s all we play for. Without him, none of this is possible. We have to keep going. The other coaches are stepping up. I’m very proud of them.”
As long as Garrett eventually returns as head coach, every Crenshaw victory this season will count toward his pursuit of 300 career victories, according to CalHiSports.com. He’s at 295 career victories, the winningest coach in City Section history. But when his administrative leave will be resolved remains uncertain.
For now, Crenshaw is progressing. The team that struggled with player turnout in recent years had 30 players on Friday listed as suiting up. Three players from eight-man power Animo Robinson have made an impact in the transition to 11-man football.
“They’re great add-ons,” Lewis said.
Also contributing has been sophomore defensive lineman Jeremiah Alexander, who was playing drums in the school band at this time last year. Garrett got him to come out, and Alexander had a sack before being taken out because of an injury.
Dorsey put the pressure on Crenshaw in the second half behind two sacks from Saul Avila-Machado.
Crenshaw got the ball back clinging to its 12-8 lead with 4:53 left and was able to run out the clock thanks to clutch completions by Flowers to De’Andre Kirkpatrick for nine yards and Lewis for 20 yards.
Lewis said it was “cool” that Mustard performed at halftime, but he and his teammates were too busy with football to listen. “We have to show the City is still alive,” he said.
