It wasn’t pretty but Redondo will take the win after holding off visiting North Torrance 26-21 in a game marred with more than 200 combined yards in penalties.
Jermar Jefferson emerged as the driving force for Redondo as the sophomore rushed for 115 yards on 19 carries and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give the Sea Hawks a 20-7 lead at halftime.
“We had too many penalties and stumbled a little at the end but picked it back up and got the win which is what counts,” Jefferson said.
Redondo opened the scoring when quarterback Jacob Silvera sprinted right for a 10-yard touchdown run.
The Sea Hawks increased their lead to 14-0 after Cole LeBlanc blocked a punt and returned it five yards for a score late in the first quarter.
North got on the scoreboard when quarterback Mique Juarez scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 3-yard run with 8 minutes, 38 seconds left in the second quarter to pull the Saxons to within one score at 14-7.
But Redondo answered quickly with Jefferson’s 90-yard scamper on the ensuing kickoff.
Redondo’s defense kept Juarez, a highly-recruited multi-purpose athlete, reined in for most of the evening.
A USC commit as a linebacker, Juarez finished with 30 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Good coverage and a strong pass rush limited Juarez to 148 yards passing (8 of 26) with one touchdown and an interception by Redondo’s Ahmir Wilson.
Juarez hit Justin Allmond for a 66-yard touchdown to close the gap 20-14 with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter before Redondo’s ground attack took over while the Sea Hawk offense sustained two long drives.
Allmond finished the night with five receptions for 118 yards.
After a missed filed goal attempt, Malik Spencer increased Redondo’s lead to 26-14 on an 11-yard touchdown run.
Juarez gave the Saxons hope running for a 17-yard touchdown with 1:01 left on the clock but Jerone Jackson recovered North’s onside kick attempt to seal the victory on Teacher Appreciation Night.
Silvera, who transferred from rival Mira Costa for his senior year, was 12- of 17 passing for 100 yards. He also rushed for 32 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
Spencer, a senior, had 42 yards and a touchdown on six carries for Redondo and Warren Jackson added four catches for 33 yards for Redondo,
“As messy as it was, it was nice to get that first win,” Redondo head coach Matt Ballard said. “Juarez had a couple big plays. He‘s an awesome player awesome player and you’re not going to stop the kid but just try to keep him in check.
“We’re really frustrated by the number of penalties we had. But the defense had a big stop and the offense maintained a long drive to kind of seal the game so there’s definitely bright spots. We have some play makers, which we knew, but shooting ourselves in the foot is really frustrating. We spread the ball around and I’d like to get Warren (Jackson) involved a little more. The talent’s there, which is the good part, we just have to be more disciplined.”
Redondo takes on Ocean League contender Santa Monica next Friday in a 7 p.m. game at Santa Monica College. ER
