With frustrating non-league schedules behind them, Mira Costa and Redondo will attempt to regain their winning ways on the gridiron when Bay League action begins Friday.
Although each team has won only once in five games (both shutout victories) and was held scoreless in one contest, to their credit, the Mustangs and Sea Hawks played more difficult non-league schedules than their Bay League adversaries and enter this week’s action with a clean slate as they begin the battle with Leuzinger, Palos Verdes, Peninsula and West for league supremacy.
Redondo head coach Gene Simon believes Palos Verdes is the team to beat.
“I think PV has the most returning depth and has performed the best of all of us in pre-season.”
Points wanted
Mira Costa head coach Don Morrow is trying everything in his arsenal to find an effective offense but has had little success up to this point.
For the first time this season, Mira Costa scored in the opening quarter of a game last Thursday, but the three points from Gavin Jerrigan’s 25-yard field were all the Mustangs could put on the scoreboard in a 33-3 loss at Newport Harbor.
Stephen Giovati has provided most of the offense for Mira Costa rushing for 397 yards and three touchdowns on 94 carries. Raphael Lawson-Gayle is the team’s leading receiver with 10 catches for 92 yards.
Defensively, the Mustangs are led by Trey Tamura who has been in on 42 tackles and R.J. Coleman was has recorded three sacks this season.
Mira Costa (1-4) opens its league campaign hosting West (4-1) Friday at 7 p.m. The Warriors have won four straight after a season-opening 51-28 loss at Culver City but their record can be a bit misleading. While Mira Costa was competing against ranked teams from highly-competitive divisions, West recorded wins against local teams North, South, El Segundo and Torrance whose combined record is 7-13.
West is led by two-way standout Joey Notch (5-10, 185). The junior quarterback has passed for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions this season. His 237-yard, four-touchdown performance propelled the Warriors to a 40-7 rout of visiting North last Thursday. Notch also had three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball, giving him six on the year.
Notch utilizes athletic receivers with Nick Roos (5-9, 170) and tight end Matthew Boesen (6-3, 210) as his favorite targets.
Senior Phil Kang (5-11, 230) along with juniors Mohammed Faghi (6-1, 245) and Tommy Oslund (6-2, 265) lead the offensive line which paves the way for running back Barry Thomas (5-10, 195).
Redondo looks to rebound
Redondo (1-4) would like nothing more than to see its homecoming crowd celebrate with a victory over Peninsula on Friday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Sophomore quarterback Harrison Faecher has gained valuable experience in a challenging non-league schedule that will help the young signal caller lead the Sea Hawks toward a possible playoff berth, but it may be Redondo’s defense that determines the team’s quick start out of the gate in the race for a Bay League championship.
“Our preseason got the most inexperienced parts of our team (offensive and defensive lines and quarterback) enough success to build confidence on,” Simon said. “Our offensive line and quarterback had never taken a varsity snap before the season, and they have improved weekly, and our defensive line has been very productive in terms of tackles and pressuring the quarterback. We hope they will be ready for the challenge of intense Bay League games that will certainly be won by the team putting the best four quarters of football together on a given day.”
Simon realizes much of his team’s success will depend on how quickly Faecher matures as a quarterback.
“Faecher is an unusual talent with good accuracy, a strong arm, and a calm demeanor,” Simon said. “He’s thrown for 752 yards and eight touchdowns but also has eight interceptions to match which is too many for my liking. He has a chance to lead us to victories this year, so we’re counting on him to make the right play enough to keep us afloat. He has many tools and he needs to rely on them, but also should depend on his teammates to do their jobs. Trying to do too much is a mindset he needs to avoid.”
Redondo will face a stern challenge in its league opener with Peninsula (4-1). The Panthers have a strong ground game led by Okuoma Idah (5-11, 185), Matt Hezlep (6-2, 185) and Tommy Webster (6-0, 195) who run behind a solid offensive line that includes Joey Auguello (6-1, 255) and Max McHugh (6-3, 260).
Idah is the workhorse for the Panthers, rushing for 653 yards and seven touchdowns on 89 carries this season.
Quarterback Matt Imwalle (6-1, 165) balances the attack with receivers Nathan Jo (5-7, 165) and James Nelson (5-11, 185).
Redondo and Peninsula have played two common opponents. A week after North defeated Redondo 21-14 in overtime, Peninsula beat the Saxons 21-12. Culver City had big wins against both Bay League teams, crushing host Peninsula 42-7 before dismantling visiting Redondo 40-23 the following week.
Other Peninsula wins were against Beverly Hills, Lawndale and South last Thursday when kicker Tony Bumsatay (5-10, 150) nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give the Panthers a 23-20 victory.
The Redondo Union High School Alumni Association will hold its 2nd annual Homecoming Celebration at 5 p.m. prior to Friday’s game. Tickets are $25 ($15 for children/students 18 and under) and include admission to the game, an El Gringo Buffet pre-game dinner, a collector Alumni drink holder and Alumni Association window decal. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and Athletic Hall of Fame. For more information, visit www.RUHSAlumni.org.
