EL SEGUNDO HERALD October 25, 2018 Page 5
Eagles Loss Feels Like a Win
Story and Photos by Gregg McMullin
The El Segundo High School football team
has struggled through some challenging times
this season. Though the season and their
overall record hasn’t gone to plan, they’ve
done what they could to paste together a
decent showing in the shadows of so many
players on the sidelines due to injuries. So
facing the Lawndale Cardinals, a team roster
riddled with standouts who happen to be
transfers, it would add frustration to and
already exasperating schedule. The Eagles
might have fallen to Lawndale 22-7, but
by the way the coaches, players and fans
reacted afterwards you’d have thought El
Segundo just pulled off a huge upset. The
reaction was a valid one since Lawndale was
estimated to be a four-touchdown favorite.
This was a David and Goliath matchup and
though the underdogs couldn’t bring down
the giant, they showed as much grit as in
any wining effort.
The Eagles didn’t shock the high school
football world with an upset, but they surprised
everyone in the bleachers by playing perhaps
their best defensive game of the year. After
their worst game against Culver City, the El
Segundo defensive unit stepped up against
Lawndale’s proficient juggernaut offense.
On Senior Night, when the program
recognized all the seniors who are part of
the football team as well as the trainers,
choir, cheer and band squads – and with
the bleachers exploding with an overflow
crowd -- the Eagles played with a lot of
heart. This was a game that could have gone
horribly wrong quickly like it did against
Culver City. The Eagles were down 28-0
to the Centaurs early in the second quarter
when play was suspended due to lightning.
The game was on pace to be a running
clock before halftime. That was not to be
against Lawndale when the defense was
retooled and focused to stop the Cardinals.
According to defensive coordinator Dan
Heck, the defensive unit focused and played
it best game of the season. “We had a great
week of practice and it showed in the game,”
Heck said.
Lawndale probably thought coming into the
game that El Segundo would be a pushover.
The Eagles played inspired from the opening
moments of the game and shaved their opponents’
confidence throughout the contest.
This was a game that saw the Eagles’
defense limit Lawndale’s vaunted offense,
that was averaging 40 points and over 350
yards of total offense per game, to a mere
140 yards rushing and 101 yards passing.
Offensively the Eagles had their moments,
but some of those moments included
four interceptions, two fumbles and senior
quarterback Matt Romero being sacked
three times. The Eagles had just 173 yards
of total offense against a recruited defense
loaded with players who will be playing at
four-year schools.
On El Segundo’s first possession to open
the game, Romero was intercepted on the
third play and Lawndale took over. Just when
the momentum was seemingly in the hands
of the Cardinals, the Eagle defense halted
the drive when Nick Villa intercepted Jalon
Daniels. On Lawndale’s next possession,
the Eagles forced a fumble recovered by
James Fraelich.
El Segundo’s offense went nowhere
throughout the first quarter, but Lawndale’s
offense was caught off guard by El Segundo’s
defense and the first quarter went scoreless
for each team. It was just the second time
this season Lawndale had been shut out in
the opening quarter. The other time was
against Calabasas.
Lawndale took advantage of an interception
that was returned to the Eagles 37-yard line.
Three plays later, the Cardinals scored on a
touchdown reception by Stan Livingstone to
make it 8-0 after the two-point conversion.
The Eagles had an impressive drive on
their ensuing possession, but came away
empty on a turnover. Joey Gorte picked up
five yards on a swing pass, while Arman
Sayson rushed for 12 yards and caught a
short pass for six yards. A holding penalty
moved the ball deep in Lawndale territory,
but Romero was sacked and then he threw
an interception.
The first half had come to an end and
El Segundo had held Lawndale to a single
score and trailed 8-0. There were another 24
minutes of football remaining and the Eagles
were thinking upset knowing they could play
with a bigger and faster team.
The Eagles’ defense stopped Lawndale to
force a punt to open the third quarter. The
key play of the game ensued on the first play
when the Eagles fumbled the ball back to
the Cardinals. Lawndale took over on the El
Segundo 32-yard line and two passing plays
later took a 15-0 lead.
The Eagles would bend but not break and
had their longest and deepest drive of the
game. Starting from their own 28-yard line,
Romero guided his team to the Lawndale
16-yard line where the drive stalled. The
Eagles lined up in field goal formation, but
went to the wildcat formation with Villa at
the quarterback position. He raced around
looking for an open receiver and threw a pass
intended for Dylan Phillips that was picked
off by Jonathon Watson in the end zone and
returned 55 yards. On the first play, Keenan
Fyles took the handoff and raced 48 yards
for a touchdown.
The Eagles’ only scoring drive of the game
was a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended on
a three-yard keeper by Romero with 5:31
remaining in the game to make it 22-7.
Afterwards head coach Steve Shevlin
praised his team for playing so well. “You
played with urgency and worked through the
adversity -- I couldn’t be prouder,” he said.
Heck said the defense did what it was
supposed to do and added, “You hope that
what you’re teaching your players in practice
resonates in the game and they did just that.
We may have lost the game, but we won
the battle.”
The Eagles finish up their regular season
on the road at Santa Monica Friday
night at 7:30 p.m. at Santa Monica College.
They have an outside chance of advancing
to the CIF Southern Section Division 7
playoffs, but to do so they would need to
defeat the Vikings.
Cross Country Teams
Do Well in Ocean League Meet
The boys and girls cross country teams
did well in their first Ocean League meet.
The girls team won their meet, while the
boys came in third place. Sophia Zago paced
her team with a third place finish. James
Matlosz and Gabby Lee finished fourth and
fifth respectively, while Nicolette Fulcomer
placed ninth. Leah Guziak, Letina Daniel
and Aliya Rafei each ran personal bests to
help their team finish first overall.
On the boys side, Christopher Waites ran
a personal best and finished ninth overall to
lead the Eagles. Arend Verfaille had his best
run of the season, while Calvin Liang, Niall
Glynn and Cole Sterba each ran solid races
with personal bests. •
Nate Kehl prepares to make a catch for the Eagles late in the game. Joey Gorte looks for running room near the goal line.
Alex Ron tackles Lawndale’s Naki Fahina for a loss.
HAVE A SAFE AND SPOOKY NIGHT.
From all of us at Herald Publications.
Carving
Created by
Jenifer Bronson.