For Serra High School wide receiver/defense back Robert Woods, his selection to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is number one an already impressive list of athletic achievements.

“This is number one right now,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about this game since I was in Pop Warner. My goal is to win it for the West because I understand they haven’t won in a long time.”

To him, it’s special being part of a game whose alumni includes Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson, Vince Young and Tim Tebow, among others.

“It’s an honor considering all the great names that have appeared in it,” he said during a news conference Monday at the school.

He points out, though, there are other achievements he would like to add and all are team-oriented.

They include winning a Del Rey League title, a CIF Southern Section Northwest Division crown and an invite to a state bowl game, all of which would top even his selection to the 10th annual all-star game pitting the top 90 high school players in America. Woods is part of the West squad that faces the East Jan. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The first challenge is Friday when the Cavaliers (9-0, 3-0) host Cathedral (9-0, 3-0) for the Del Rey title. Down the road is a potential CIF title game rematch with Oaks Christian, which defeated Serra in last year’s final.

“We have to take it game by game,” he said. “First is the league title, then CIF. Oaks Christian is most definitely on our minds because we’ve lost to them in back to back years (in the playoffs).”

Much will be expected of Woods, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder rated by recruiting website rivals.com as the No. 3 overall player in the nation.
He committed to USC Aug. 19.

“I chose them because of all the tradition and the chance to play in front of family and friends,” he said.

A year after catching 81 passes for 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns, Woods has caught 41 for 676 yards and nine TDs and has five interceptions on defense.

He is the leader of a team that is loaded with weapons, including junior wide receiver George Farmer (28 catches, 589 yards, six TDs), wide receiver Paul Richardson (24 for 481, six TDs) and quarterback Conner Preston (2,262 yards, 29 TDs passing).

They’ll be facing a Cathedral team led by quarterback Trevor Olson, a transfer from Evergreen, Colo. who has thrown for 2,502 yards and 28 TDs.

He has a solid group of receivers to throw to, led by Anthony Jefferson (41 catches, 942 yards, 11 TDs). Kristaan Ivory is the top rusher with 732 yards and 10 TDs on 65 carries.

The difference-maker, though, could be Woods, who has the utmost respect of his coach, Scott Altenberg.

“He’s quite a kid, a real solid individual,” Altenberg said. “None of this (fame) has gone to his head. He’s been great since his sophomore year, yet he’s remained humble and grounded.

“He’s one of those kids other kids rally around. Nobody works harder than him and I don’t remember him ever missing a practice. There aren’t too many kids you can say that about.”

Camino Real League
Verbum Dei (6-3, 3-0) will nail down the Camino Real League title outright with a victory at Cantwell Sacred Heart (4-5, 1-2) Friday.

If the Eagles do that, they’ll finish a game ahead of Mary Star (5-4, 3-1), who they defeated last week, 28-25. Mary Star, which faces nonleague foe St. Bernard Friday, has completed the league portion of its schedule.

In the win over Mary Star, Anthony Charles carried 23 times for 154 yards and a TD and fullback Mark Sanchez added a 21-yard scoring run as the Eagles used a powerful ground attack in the second half to turn the contest in their favor.

Darryl Williams (4-of-8 for 88 yards) had a 13-yard scoring pass to Fred Edison and was outstanding on defense with 12 tackles, two sacks and two quarterback hurries.

Middle linebacker Terrence Harper (14 tackles), outside backer Joshua Johnson (eight tackles, sack) and cornerback Sean McCormick (eight tackles, pass breakup) also stood out on that side of the ball.

“We were playing an opponent who was desperate to win, so we did what was necessary to win,” Verbum Dei coach James Durk said. “We did a lot of bending, but no breaking, and that was the key to our success. In the second half, we did what we do best, and that’s run the ball.”

Pioneer League
Centennial (6-3, 4-0) can clinch the Pioneer League title Friday when it hosts Lawndale (5-4, 3-1).

Until El Segundo (6-3, 3-1) edged Lawndale, 24-20 last week, this week’s game loomed as a showdown between two co-leaders. Now the Cardinals need a win just to force at least a two-way tie, and possibly a three-way sharing of the crown.

Centennial’s resurgence under second-year coach Eric Scott has featured the strong passing of Nelson Gammage and the receiving of Kevin Smith. In last week’s 41-7 win over Torrance, Gammage passed for two TDs and ran for another. Smith scored a pair of TDs.

Moore League
Compton’s playoff hopes rest on defeating visiting Long Beach Poly Friday in a Moore League finale.

The Tarbabes, 42-26 winners over Millikan last week, are 4-4 overall, 2-3 in league. Poly, a 15-6 winner over Cabrillo, is 4-5, 3-2.

Lakewood (9-1, 6-0) and Wilson (6-3, 4-1) have locked up the top two playoff spots. But the number three berth is wide open with Compton, Poly and Millikan all in contention.

San Gabriel Valley League
Warren (8-1, 4-0) has secured no worse than a share of the San Gabriel Valley League title, but Dominguez (3-5, 2-2), Lynwood (5-4, 2-2), Gahr (5-4, 2-2) and Downey (3-6, 2-2) are all tied for second heading into Friday’s finales.

Although in a rebuilding year, Dominguez has stayed in the hunt and is coming off a 34-3 win over Paramount. Chris Brown passed for 252 yards and two TDs, John Bell caught four passes for 125 yards and a TD and Will Gregory rushed for 110 yards for the Dons against the Pirates.

Dominguez, which has a win over Downey but a loss to Gahr, is at Lynwood Friday.