Crenshaw High School's Geno Hall makes a long gain against Lakewood. Hall caught two scoring passes in Crenshaw's 28-27 victory. (Photo by Rob Helfman)
Story Published:
Sep 9, 2009 at 12:14 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Sep 9, 2009 at 12:14 PM PDT
Crenshaw High School’s goals go beyond the City Section title it is favored to win.
There’s also the matter of a bid to one of the state bowl games.
For the Cougars, who are in Division II (based on enrollment) when it comes to state, it will take more than a city championship to get there. A perfect record wouldn’t hurt, meaning they’d have to successfully wade through a challenging preleague schedule, then do the same in the Coliseum League and playoffs.
Since, champions from multiple sections are under consideration for the south berth, it’s not going to be easy for anybody to get there. That’s especially so for the City, which has yet to have a team selected in the four years the bowl system has existed.
Crenshaw, however, took an important first step in that regard last Friday with a 28-27 victory over CIF Southern Section power Lakewood, No. 3 in maxpreps.com’s preseason state rankings. Friday, they get another chance to add to their power ratings when No. 24 Norco visits. This is the season opener for Norco, which defeated the Cougars, 25-0 last year.
“Our goals are to be state champs,” Cougar wide receiver Geno Hall said after catching 11 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Lakewood. “Hard work will pay off.”
Veteran leadership should also help Crenshaw in its most challenging games.
Most of the key players, including Hall, were part of the 2008 team that went 8-4 and advanced to the City semifinals.
In last year’s opener, Lakewood rallied from a first-half deficit to a 42-34 victory (later reversed by forfeit due to the Lancers using an ineligible player).
This time, the Cougars were the ones more poised in crunch time.
“We have seniors who are trying to step up and be leaders,” Hall said.
Nobody more so than Hall, who caught five passes for 36 yards, including the game-winning nine-yard fade pass from Marquis Thompson with 2:33 remaining. Twice during the drive, he made clutch catches for first downs.
“He was spectacular tonight,” Cougar coach Robert Garrett said. “I’m really proud of his growth and maturity.”
A lot of credit has to go to Thompson, who completed 14 of 17 passes for 167 yards. A first-half interception, which killed a scoring chance, was his one glitch.
“Marquis stepped up big,” Garrett said. “He had to redeem himself after the interception. He needed that for his self-morale.”
Lejon Baker blocked a punt, then recovered and returned it five yards for a touchdown that gave the Cougars a 22-21 lead with 1:13 left in the third quarter.
Defensive lineman Shannon Penn came through with a huge sack of Lakewood’s USC-bound quarterback Jesse Scroggins in the final minutes to knock the Lancers out of field goal range. Scroggins (17-of-28 for 206 yards, three TDs) then had his third- and fourth-down passes fall incomplete, allowing Crenshaw to run out the remainder of the clock.
“What we can take from this victory is that we’ve got to play all 48 minutes,” Penn said.
Lakewood coach Thadd McNeal felt his offensive line did a commendable job of protecting Scroggins until the sack.
“When you get into a passing situation, the defense can just pin its ears back,” he said. “You have to give Crenshaw all the credit.”
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