City Section powers taking page from 2010 playbook

Crenshaw opens the season with a pair of tough losses.

Carson has a watershed victory and a defeat that feels more like water torture.

Dorsey collects triumphs that may or may not be meaningful come December.

No, the top Los Angeles City Section teams are not replaying the 2010 season on a loop. It only seems that way.

Just like last season, Crenshaw lost to an out-of-state power in its opener (this time to Alta of Sandy, Utah) before suffering a single-digit defeat against Norco. And the Cougars bounced back both times with a victory over Wilmington Banning, including a 54-28 triumph Friday.

Carson reprised the early-season roller coaster of a year ago with an opening victory over Santa Ana Mater Dei before getting blown out by another Pac-5 Division power. Last season, it was a 56-14 loss to Santa Margarita; this year, a 38-18 thumping by Long Beach Poly.

Dorsey has victories over Woodland Hills Taft and two other City Section foes. Same as last season.

Except there is one potentially significant difference for the Dons: a knee injury to Reginald Bell on Friday that knocked the quarterback out of Dorsey’s 32-26 overtime victory over Garfield.

Jaydon Mickens stepped in and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 10-yard run in the extra period. Bell’s status for the Dons’ game Friday against Redlands East Valley remains unknown.

Dorsey Coach Paul Knox said Saturday his team isn’t a replica of the one that started last season with nine consecutive victories before dropping two of its last three games.

“We’re a little bit ahead on defense but not as explosive on offense,” he said.

Knox still considers two-time defending City champion Crenshaw the team to beat, even with star tailback De’Anthony Thomas having moved on to Oregon.

“You lose a player like De’Anthony, you can’t be as good,” Knox said. “He was just so dominant. But it’s not like they don’t have talent.”

Not just for kicks

Anyone who thinks kickers are soft should try to defend Arroyo Grande’s Garrett Owens.

He is 5 feet 8 and 155 pounds, with immeasurable heart.

The senior caught a career-high 10 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown during Arroyo Grande’s 45-17 victory over Templeton. He also converted all five extra-point attempts and kicked a 57-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

“Kickers are labeled with the stereotype of being soft, but I try not to be,” said Owens, who has committed to Air Force. “I just like to play the game.”

Making their points

Hollywood defeated North Hollywood in a game that could be dubbed the Fall Classic.

Final score: 2-0.

“I’ve never experienced that in my life,” said Jim McElroy, Hollywood’s co-coach. “Maybe a baseball game when I was younger but never in football.”

The Sheiks tallied the game’s only points midway through the third quarter when North Hollywood made an errant snap over the quarterback’s head into the end zone. The Huskies fell on the ball for a safety.

ben.bolch@latimes.com