Half the teams from the Bay League got an early jump on the season but failed to come away with victories in 0 Week games with Mira Costa, Redondo and Palos Verdes suffering losses.
Leuzinger, Peninsula and West play their season openers Friday. Teams that played games during last week’s 0 Week will have a bye during one week of its 2011 schedule.
Palos Verdes lost at Moorpark 21-10, the sixth-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Northern Division and the school that eliminated Mira Costa from the playoffs last season.
Inglewood invades Waller Stadium
Mira Costa hopes to even its record when defending Ocean League champion Inglewood comes to Manhattan Beach Friday for a 7 p.m. game.
Inglewood will also be seeking its first win of the season after losing to host Westchester 27-21 in overtime.
The Sentinels lost a bunch from its senior-laden team of a year ago returning only four starters but have athleticism on both sides of the ball.
Derrick Woods (6-1, 180) is a highly recruited wide receiver who is No. 12 on the Rivals.com list of top senior receivers in the nation.
Devian Shelton (6-0, 175) is a two-way threat at running back and defensive back. Shelton rushed for 135 yards on 14 carries, including touchdowns runs of 17 and 49 yards, against Westchester.
San Diego State-bound Darien Bennett (6-3, 235) will be a force at tight end while junior defensive end Chauntez Jackson (6-4, 240) will anchor the defense.
In a game played at L.A. Valley College. Mira Costa lost to inter-league rival Loyola 28-14 last Friday as the Mustangs couldn’t overcome a 21-0 deficit when Loyola scored on three consecutive plays in the first half.
Mira Costa found its bearings with a 14-play, 70-yard drive capped by Dylan Chen’s touchdown on a 3-yard pass play from quarterback Alex Cuevas.
In his first varsity start, Cuevas completed 10-of-17 passes for 84 yards and one touchdown with his favorite target being Raphael Lawson-Gayle who had five receptions for 49 yards.
Running back Stephen Giovati led the Mustang offense, carrying the ball 24 times for 105 yards that included a 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Linebacker Josh Querbash led the defense with seven tackles. Defensive lineman R.J. Coleman and linebackers Brett Gerten and Tanner Bernard each recorded five tackles.
Sea Hawks host Serra
Redondo head coach Gene Simon faces his alma mater this week when the Sea Hawks host defending Western Division champion Serra Friday at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers are a talented team despite having only four returning starters from last year’s squad that produced 10 Division 1 college players.
In the season opener last Friday, Serra had its 36 regular-season game winning streak snapped with a 35-13 home loss to a strong Notre Dame team from Sherman Oaks. The loss was the first for the Cavaliers since Redondo beat them in a non-league contest in 2007.
Sophomore quarterback Jalen Greene (6-1, 180) leads an offense that features running back Anterio Bateman. The 5-foot-6, 165-pound junior carried the ball 13 times for a game-high 167 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown run against Notre Dame.
The Cavaliers have a large, physical, yet inexperienced offensive line anchored by their only returning starter, Tavita Tua’ua (6-4, 347).
Serra’s defense is led by UCLA-bound cornerback Raymond Ford (5-10, 175), who will also line up at receiver and handle kick returns, linebacker Patrick Wooten (5-11, 195) and defensive tackle Kris Cooper (6-3, 275).
Redondo suffered a 21-14 overtime loss to visiting North Torrance Friday in the season opener for both teams.
After Redondo’s defense pinned North back deep in its own territory, North’s punter mishandled the snap and failed to kick the loose ball out of the end zone for a safety. Harry Whitsen fell on the ball for a touchdown, bringing the Sea Hawks even at 14-14.
Redondo held McDaniel to 51 yards on 14 carries regulation, but the highly touted running back broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run in overtime.
The Sea Hawks failed to convert on a fourth-and-two at the 19-yard line when, after a Hunter Bradshaw run around left end, the ball was placed just inches shy of a first down, quelling a possible game-tying drive.
