Redondo rallied from a 14-point deficit, using a strong running attack and physical defense to defeat visiting West Torrance 35-28 in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Western Division playoffs on Friday night.
The Sea Hawks overcame more than 100 penalty yards in the first half – including a 65-yard rushing touchdown that was called back for holding – to defeat the Warriors for the second time this season as the home crowd celebrated Senior Night.
“The game was a grind, for sure. It was a hard-fought battle by them,” Redondo linebacker/wide receiver Preston Faecher said. “We had the same game plan as the first time we played each other, we just had to execute. We shot ourselves in the foot with all the penalties and that’s something we need to work on moving forward. We just need to keep fighting each and every play.”
Fourth-seeded Redondo (9-2) won a coin flip and will host Pacific View champion Oxnard (8-3) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Oxnard is coming off a 35-14 victory over Oak Park.
Redondo broke a 21-21 tie late in the game after running back Malik Spencer, who also starts at defensive end, appeared to be stopped at West’s 24-yard line but kept his legs moving and, with the help of many teammates, moved the pile of players down to the 2-yard line. On the Sea Hawk’s next play, Spencer banged through the line for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:59 left remaining in regulation.
“I was waiting for a whistle the entire time,” Redondo coach Matt Ballard said. “That’s the farthest I’ve seen a pile move. Malik’s only got one speed. That’s why he gets so gassed.”
An interception by Faecher on West’s first play following the kickoff gave Redondo the ball on the West 26-yard line but a missed field goal attempt kept it a one-score game.
With a first-and-10 from Redondo’s 20-yard line, the Sea Hawks once again created a turnover on the Warrior’s first play of their possession. Cedric Muzik, who had two sacks in the game, hit West quarterback Drake Peabody from behind causing a fumble.
Two-way lineman Danny Zimmerman picked up the ball and sprinted to the end zone for what would be the game-winning touchdown.
“It felt good to score again,” said Zimmerman, who recorded a touchdown on a blocked punt against Morningside earlier in the season. “We trailed West at halftime the first time we played them so we knew we’d have to tough it out for the whole game giving 110 percent.”
“We work on the strip drill in practice so it’s nice to see something you work on a lot solidify a game like that,” Ballard added.
West scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Peabody to Casey Wright with four second left in the game but Redondo recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.
Redondo jumped out to an early lead in the game when Jermar Jefferson broke off an 80-yard touchdown run on the Sea Hawk’s first play from scrimmage.
West answered with 21 unanswered points. Peabody scored on a 3-yard run after a key 23-yard pass to Cody Wissler on a fourth-and-6 play.
West then capitalized on two Redondo turnovers. Peabody scored on a 14-yard run following a fumble recovery and Denver Silverlake had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown with 10:59 left in the second quarter.
Redondo kept itself in the game when quarterback Jacob Silvera lobbed a 26-yard pass to Faecher to set up Faecher’s 4-yard touchdown reception with 40 seconds left cutting the deficit to 21-14 at halftime.
The Sea Hawks kept the ball on the ground in the second half wearing the Warriors down. Jefferson rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, Jerone Jackson added 64 yards on eight carries and Spencer pounded out 49 yards on six touches.
“It’s a nice combo of power and speed,” Ballard said. “Jermar’s kind of that middle pounder with speed and Malik has all the talent in the world. When he’s on all cylinders, he’s just a load.”
Peabody carried West’s offense gaining 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 rushing attempts and going 8-of-18 passing for 82 yards with a touchdown.
Redondo’s coaching staff selected Jefferson as the team’s Offensive Player of the Game, Zimmerman earned Defensive Player of the Game honors, junior Tua’au Laolagi was named Special Teams Player of the Game and junior defensive back Chase Watson was selected the Scout “Eager Beaver” Player of the Week.
Brackets and results are avaialable at cifss.org.
