With an unexpected bye week, Redondo’s football team is focusing on snapping four-time defending Bay League champion Palos Verdes’ 26- league game winning streak when the showdown between the first-place teams takes place at Palos Verdes on Friday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m.
Redondo (7-1, 3-0) is ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Western Division and will take on a Palos Verdes squad that has moved in the No. 10 position after winning five straight games. Palos Verdes (5-3, 3-0) dropped its first three games but the Sea King defense has stepped up allowing only 27 points in the last five games that included a 9-7 victory over Mira Costa.
Palos Verdes is coming off a 29-7 win at Morningside where Adison Umrarong rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.
Redondo defeated Morningside 40-29 the previous week and was given a win by forfeit Friday night after administrators at Peninsula High School canceled the football team’s final three games earlier in the week
“We began the season with 27 Varsity players, but with numerous injuries, we no longer believe that we can safely field a Varsity Team without putting the health of our remaining student athletes in jeopardy,” Peninsula principal Mitzi Cress stated in a press release last Tuesday. “Site administrators have spent the last several days conferring with our coaching staff, trainers and CIF, and have in turn reached out to our counterparts in the Bay League.”
The Peninsula game at Redondo was supposed to be the Sea Hawk’s Senior Night, traditionally held by varsity athletic teams at their final home game of the regular season.
Redondo Head Coach Matt Ballard and Athletic Director Andy Saltsman are discussing other options to recognize the seniors for their hard work and dedication to the school’s football program.
“It’s unfortunate on many levels,” Ballard said. “For our part, we’ll focus on what we can control, our preparation for Palos Verdes.”
Redondo has scored 225 points (including the official 2-0 forfeit win) this season while giving up 117. Palos Verdes has scored 155 points in its eight games while surrendering 121.
Jermar Jefferson leads Redondo’s rushing attack averaging 64 yards per game while Umrarong leads the Sea Kings (71.3 yards per game).
Redondo’s senior quarterback Jacob Silvera is averaging 170.8 yards passing per game with his favorite target being junior Warren Jackson, who has scored a team-high seven touchdowns while averaging 89.7 receiving yards per game.
Silvera’s counterpart, sophomore Jake Nolls is averaging 56.6 yards per game for Palos Verdes. Junior tight end Shane Irwin has used his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame to catch a team high five touchdowns.
Redondo, who concludes the regular season with a road game against Mira Costa on Nov. 6, controls its own destiny in the battle for the Bay League championship. A win at Palos Verdes will assure the Sea Hawks at least a share of the Bay League title.
If Palos Verdes emerges victorious, it will mark the Sea King’s fifth straight Bay League title having already secured a forfeit win in the final game of the regular season.
In a rare circumstance, Mira Costa (7-1, 2-1) finds itself rooting for rival Redondo. If the Sea Hawks defeat Palos Verdes and Mira Costa beats Redondo, each team will finish with one league loss giving Mira Costa a chance of entering the playoffs as the Bay League’s No. 1 team and a first-round home game.
Mira Costa travels to Morningside (6-2, 1-2) this week after defeating visiting Inglewood 55-8 Friday night. The Mustangs jumped out to a 48-0 halftime lead and kept the Sentinels out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.
The CIF-SS Western Division playoffs will feature many strong local teams as seven South Bay schools entered the week ranked in the top ten.
Following top-ranked Calabasas, were Redondo (No. 2), North Torrance (No. 3), Mira Costa (No. 4), El Segundo (No. 5), Lawndale (No. 6) and South Torrance and Palos Verdes who were tied at No. 10.
Calabasas (6-1) plays at rival and sixth-ranked Oak Park (6-1) Friday night in a game that should determine the Canyon League title.
