Both Bay League representatives escaped with victories Friday night advancing to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs.
Redondo (6-5) avoided overtime when host Pacifica missed an extra point on its second touchdown giving the Sea Hawks a 14-13 win.
“It wasn’t pretty at times, and we shot ourselves in the foot more than once, but in playoffs it’s about heart and getting the job done, especially when things get tough,” Redondo head coach Matt Ballard said. “Through physical play and a gritty fourth quarter in a hostile environment, our boys got the victory.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Redondo got on the board early in the second quarter when Jerone Jackson scored on a 3-yard run.
Jackson gave the Sea Hawks a 14-0 lead with about 11 minutes left in the third quarter after his 70-yard touchdown run. Jackson finished the game with 132 yards on 12 carries.
Pacifica answered with a touchdown nearly three minutes later to stay in the game.
About two minutes in the fourth quarter it appeared Pacifica would tie the game, but the missed extra point proved the difference in the contest.
Warren Jackson helped keep Ventura’s defense off balance catching three passes from quarterback Preston Faecher for 61 yards.
Redondo will host third-seeded Ventura (10-1) in a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday. Ventura routed visiting South Torrance 49-7 in its playoff opener.
Ventura’s offense is spearheaded by quarterback Tyler Smith who entered Friday’s game with 1,325 yards passing, throwing 114 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
Running back Tyler Peralta leads the ground attack, averaging 5.7 yards per carry while rushing for 1,409 yards and 20 touchdowns going into the playoffs.
“We’ll see if our tough pre-season helped prepare us for this caliber of a team,” Ballard added. “Nobody said it was going to be easy.”
Redondo’s coaching staff named Jackson was the team’s IOffensive Player of the Game while Defensive Players of the Game honors went to Jackson, Ryan Armalin, Dallas Branch and Zane Zent.
Special Teams Player of the Game: Sophomore Chase Watson was selected Special Teams Player of the Game. Freshman linebacker Jayden Gregorio and freshman running back Jermar Jefferson were named Scout “Eager Beaver” Players of the Week.
Bay League champion Palos Verdes (8-3) staved off a rally by Lawndale (6-5) for a 35-28 win in a game played at Mira Costa.
Palos Verdes jumped out to a 21-0 lead on touchdowns by Steven Delcarson, Stanton Gilbertson and Lance Brown.
Lawndale scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by Chris Murray and stayed in the game when Isaiah Torres blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt and Dawan Ballard returned in 80 yards to pull the Cardinals to within seven points at 21-14 going into halftime.
Lawndale evened the score on its first possession of the second half but Gilbertson scored two touchdowns to give Palos Verdes a 35-21 lead.
Lawndale scored with 2:11 remaining in the game but the Sea Kings ran out the clock.
Gilbertson looked fully recovered from an injury that kept him sidelined against Redondo, rushing for 174 yard on 23 carries.
Second-seeded El Segundo (11-0) remained undefeated with a 52-20 home win against Rio Mesa.
Dual-threat quarterback Lars Nootbaar completed 14 of 22 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns and rushed four times for 30 yards and two touchdowns to lead El Segundo.
“Lars is seeing the field really well right now,” El Segundo head coach Steve Shevlin said. “It’s always good to get out of the first round. The kids are riding high and their hard work is paying off.”
Eagle receiver Nick Karsseboom had a big night, catching five passes for 164 yards including touchdowns receptions of 18, 9 and 70 yards.
Ocean League champion El Segundo will host Canyon champion Simi Valley (7-4), a 45-19 winner over visiting North Torrance (7-4).
The Pioneer League had a rough time in the first round of the Western Division playoffs with West Torrance the only one of four teams to advance.
Along with North and South, Torrance (6-4) also was eliminated falling at fourth-seeded Oxnard 28-23. The Tartars came close to pulling off the upset, but Oxnard scored on a touchdown run with 29 seconds remaining.
Top-seeded West (11-0) kept its record unblemished with a 34-28 home win against Santa Monica.
Dale Rouse led the Warriors scoring 21 points. He caught five passes for 80 and two touchdowns and his 55-yard interception return for a touchdown capped West’s scoring for the night.
Holding 14-6 lead after Brett Ojiyi’s 5-yard run and Rouse’s 24-yard touchdown reception West blocked a field goal attempt and Booby Fujioka returned it 82 yards to give the Warriors a 21-6 lead at halftime.
After an interception return pulled Santa Monica to within 21-12, West quarterback Trevor Mallet found Rouse open for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Mallet completed 12 of 26 passes for 111 yards in the game.
West will host Calabasas (6-5) in the second round on Friday.
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
