Fairfax junior wide receiver Jason Lewis Jr. has shown a knack for getting behind the defense. In the first quarter against Westchester, junior quarterback Myles Bowen hit Lewis for a 35-yard touchdown as Lewis dove beyond the defender. The two hooked up again for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, giving Fairfax a 42-0 win. Photo by Jason Lewis
Cathedral found themselves down 27-14 in the third quarter, but senior wide receiver Da’Mari Scott went to work, catching two touchdown passes and intercepting a pass in their 37-27 victory over Harvard-Westlake. Photo by Jason Lewis
There are a couple leagues that look like they are wrapped up, but all games must be played, and there are two leagues that are still up for grabs.
In the City Section’s Western League, Venice has won it every year since 2004, and heading into their final game against Fairfax, they are 4-0 in league play, and they defeated their Western League oppositions by a total of 223-15. Palisades was finally able to score on Venice’s defense this past Friday night, when the game was already 35-0.
Venice is rolling on both offense and defense, and they are one of the best teams in the City Section. But the Western League title is not won yet, because the last team to beat them in a league game, which was in 2005, was Fairfax, and that is who is the last team on their schedule this season.
Fairfax has one league loss, which was by one point at Palisades. If Fairfax can pull off the upset over Venice, then the tiebreakers will go into affect. Palisades should win their game against University. If they do and Fairfax upsets Venice, then there will be a three-way tie for the league title. If Fairfax wins and University upsets Palisades, then Fairfax will win the title outright. But if Venice continues their dominance in the Western League and wins their final game of the season, then they will win the league title again.
Looking at Venice and Fairfax’s schedule and past history, it would appear that Venice should walk away with the league title outright. But there is one thing going for Fairfax. One of their strengths matches up with Venice’s strength.
Venice has one of the best passing offenses in Southern California, and they have lit up the scoreboard with several different quarterbacks and receivers over the years. This year is no different. But Fairfax has a pass defense that has only allowed one passing touchdown all season, and Fairfax has pitched three shutouts this year. Fairfax has a pass rush that has gotten after a number of quarterbacks and they have a stingy defensive backfield, so they could give Venice some fits.
Palisades should take care of University, so if Fairfax can pull off the upset over Venice, these three teams will be flipping a coin to determine who receives the highest playoff seed.
In the Southern Section’s Mission League, it is the same situation with Chaminade, Cathedral, and Serra.
Chaminade is undefeated in league play, with a victory over Serra, which is their only loss in league play. Cathedral also has one league loss, which was to Serra. Cathedral plays Chaminade on Friday night to end the regular season, and the league title is on the line.
If Chaminade wins, then they win the title outright. If Cathedral wins, then they have at least a share of the league title. A Cathedral win coupled with a Serra win over Harvard-Westlake will produce a three-way tie. But a Cathedral win coupled with a Serra loss will give Cathedral the title outright.
Cathedral will have their hands full with a one loss Chaminade team. Their only loss of the season came against Oaks Christian, one of the best Southern Section teams. But Cathedral has the athletes to play with anybody, and they proved last week against Harvard-Westlake that they have a lot of fight in them.
This past Saturday night Cathedral was down 27-14 early in the third quarter at Harvard-Westlake, and it looked like Harvard-Westlake was going to run up the score. But from that point on Cathedral’s defense did not allow them to get close to scoring position, and Cathedral’s offense went to work, leading them to a 37-27 victory.
Cathedral receiver/cornerback Da’Mari Scott was making plays all over the field, as he caught two touchdown passes and he intercepted a fourth quarter pass. Scott caught a nine yard touchdown pass to give them a 28-27 lead late in the third quarter, and he caught a 63 yard touchdown pass to give them a 10 point forth quarter lead.
Senior wide receiver Cameron Akins kept a number of scoring drives alive as he caught 13 passes for 219 yards, and senior quarterback Hayden Rettig threw for 443 yards and three touchdowns.
Cathedral will have their work cut out for them this Friday night. Playing for a league title should bring out the best in them.
Week 9 scores, Week 10 schedule
Last week’s results
Crenshaw def. West Adams (forfeit)
Dorsey 27, Locke 20
Manual Arts 33, Rancho Dominguez 7
Fairfax 45, Westchester 0
Venice 49, Palisades 15
University 21, Hamilton 14
Carson 42, Gardena 7
Narbonne 62, Washington 3
San Pedro 48, Wilmington Banning 6
Jefferson 41, Fremont 0
Los Angeles 27, Santee 16
Roosevelt 34, Jordan 7
View Park 40, Douglass 14
Long Beach Poly 48, Long Beach Wilson 6
Long Beach Wilson 21, Long Beach Cabrillo 19
Long Beach Jordan 44, Compton 28
Lakewood 67, Millikan 17
Serra 56, St. Paul 9
Cathedral 37, Harvard-Westlake 27
Santa Monica 39, Inglewood 10
Culver City 14, Morningside 13
Beverly Hills 20, Hawthorne 6
Torrance 41, Lawndale 6
El Segundo 27, Centennial 14
Mira Costa 49, Leuzinger 0
Gahr 42, Lynwood 35
Downey 28, Dominguez 12
St. Anthony 28, Verbum Dei 14
This week’s schedule
All games are Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted
Crenshaw (8-1) at Manual arts (3-6), 2 p.m.
Locke (3-6) at Rancho Dominguez Prep (3-6)
Fairfax (6-3) at Venice (7-2)
University (3-6) at Palisades (5-4)
Hamilton (2-7) at Westchester (2-7)
Gardena (7-2) at Narbonne (9-0)
Carson (3-6) at Banning (3-6)
Washington (4-5) at San Pedro (6-3)
Jefferson (6-3) at Santee (3-6)
South Region 2 (1-8) at Fremont (5-4)
Los Angeles (5-4) at Angelou (0-9)
South Gate (5-4) at Jordan (0-7)
Sherman Oaks CES (2-6) at View Park (6-3)
Long Beach Poly (6-3) at Long Beach Cabrillo (3-6)
Millikan (0-9) at Compton (2-7)
Long Beach Jordan (4-5) at Long Beach Wilson (3-6)
Harvard-Westlake (6-3) at Serra (7-2)
Inglewood (6-3) at Morningside (5-4)
Beverly Hills at Culver City (5-4)
Hawthorne (1-8) at Santa Monica (6-3)
Lawndale (3-6) at Centennial (3-6)
West Torrance (6-3) at Leuzinger (1-8)
Downey (6-3) at Lynwood (3-6)
Paramount (8-1) at Dominguez (4-5)
Verbum Dei (1-7) at Bishop Montgomery (6-2)
Sentinel Top 10
1. Narbonne (9-0)
2. Crenshaw (8-1)
3. Venice (7-2)
4. Serra (7-2)
5. Long Beach Poly (6-3)
6. Cathedral (8-1)
7. Lakewood (8-2)
8. Dorsey (5-4)
9. Fairfax (6-3)
10. Inglewood (6-3)
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