One bad nine-minute stretch last week is the reason Locke High School’s young football team takes a 0-2 record into Friday’s 3 p.m. nonleague game at Washington Prep.

Without it, the Saints could be looking at improving on a 1-1 mark when they face their neighborhood rivals. Locke, a 25-0 loser to Jordan the first week and 28-26 loser to Fairfax a week ago, is not the only one in search of its first victory Friday. Washington Prep (0-1) dropped its opener to Taft, 42-14.

Against Fairfax, Locke held a 12-7 lead at halftime and seemed headed to its first win. Then everything turned sour for the Saints.

“We had two turnovers in the second half that gave them 14 points,” Locke coach Wayne Crawford said. “They hit a bomb and we were down, 28-12. Then we came storming back before they ran off the last five minutes on the clock.”

The Saints still had their bright spots.

Omar Herrera, the transfer from Verbum Dei, completed 12 of 20 passes for 176 yards, including a touchdown to Eric Boyd. Running back Tony Bell, also a safety on defense, carried 15 times for 73 yards and two TDs and caught six passes for 130 yards.
“Omar played a lot better than the week before,” the coach said. “He’s starting to find his groove in the City. We’re expecting big things from him.”

At this point, there’s a big hole in the defense with heavily-recruited linebacker Kileon Cooper still sidelined by a hamstring he pulled in the summer. Crawford is hoping the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is able to play next week.

“That’s a big loss for us because we are so young on the defensive side of the ball,” he said.

As for positives on the young season, Crawford said, “The running game has been pretty consistent and so has the defense even though we are young.”

Washington Prep quarterback Daemond Biddle (7-of-15 for 144 yards and a TD) and defensive back Adolf Barley (two interceptions) were the standouts against Taft.

----------
Crenshaw (2-0) survived a shootout to edge Norco, 47-44 and remain unbeaten on the young season.

Junior quarterback Marquis Thompson completed eight of 14 passes for 197 yards and two TDs to lead the way. Geno Hall (five catches for 103 yards) and Greg Ducre (one for 67) caught the scoring passes.

With star running back DeAnthony Thomas sidelined by an ankle injury, the ground game was led by Hayes Pullard with 100 yards and a TD on 10 carries and Geoffrey Norwood with 55 yards and two scores on 10 attempts. Qujuan Floyd also ran for a TD.

The Cougars continue their tough preleague schedule Friday by hosting A.B. Miller of Fontana.

----------
Dorsey opened its season with a 33-7 win over Chatsworth.

Robert Herron caught 10- and 85-yard scoring receptions in the second quarter to carry the Dons to victory.

Dorsey hosts Hamilton Friday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

----------
Domonique Starks scored three TDs to lead Westchester (2-0) past Sylmar, 36-25.

Sylmar’s Cylle Hill-Altamirano returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score only to have Westchester’s Ralph Gordon return the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a TD.

----------
Fremont (0-2) continues its tough preleague schedule Thursday with a nonleague game against Southern Section power Los Alamitos (1-0) at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. The Pathfinders lost to Cleveland, 31-14 last week. Los Alamitos blanked Mayfair, 31-0.

----------
Justin Alo completed 10 of 16 passes for 252 yards and five TDs and ran for another score as Carson (2-0) posted its second impressive win over a Southern Section school, this one, 56-21 over Fontana’s A.B. Miller. Wayne Peters and Brent Scott each caught a pair of scoring passes for the Colts. Dion Willis added 80 yards rushing.

Carson, which defeated Mater Dei in the opener, hosts Serra (2-0), ranked second in the CIF-SS Northwest Division, Friday. Serra has scored 110 points in two games.