Page 2 August 29, 2013 A Rivalry Renewed Joe’s Sports By Adam Serrao won every game from 1991-1998 against the There are many great rivalries throughout Trojans as they went on their own little run Hawthorne, Lawndale Open all of college football, but the one that is perhaps the greatest and might even date his dominance at USC. Now that the Trojans Football Seasons Fridaybefore stepping aside for Pete Carroll and back the furthest is the rivalry between USC have had their 12 years of supremacy, it and UCLA. If you live in Los Angeles, just may be time for them to step aside for By Joe Snyder YOUTH, INEXPERIENCE MAY you know it well--the cardinal and gold Mora and the Bruins. Early indications say Hawthorne and Lawndale High Schools PLAGUE LAWNDALE versus the blue and gold. Almost as if you that the experts believe that it’s time for a begin their 2013 football seasons Friday at After a fine showing in non-league football are choosing your seat at Medieval Times, change in the tides as well. After winning the 7 p.m. on the road. The Cougars will start with a 4-1 record, Lawndale High’s football the vast majority of people who live in Pac-12 South last year, the Bruins are now at Valencia High to team ended up losing all the county have made an alliance with ranked above USC in almost every preseason take on West Ranch. five games in the highly one side, while vowing defiance against poll, while they are also picked to win their The Cardinals visit competitive Pioneer the other. What makes this rivalry unique division again as well. The Trojans, on the South East High in League that included and unlike, say, the Michigan vs. Ohio other hand, will begin the season with two South Gate. eventual CIF-Southern State rivalry, is that both universities are starting quarterbacks because head coach Lane With first-year Section Northwest located in the same city, within just 12 Kiffin cannot seems to figure out which one head coach Donald Division finalist North miles of each other. That close proximity is better suited to lead the team into battle Paysinger at the helm, Torrance. This year, the means that both alumni and students of for this upcoming season. Hawthorne is looking Cardinals will be mostly each respective university experience the So what has changed in the rivalry and why to move up after one very young with little great likelihood of running into each other are the Bruins all of a sudden so favored to of several miserable experience. at any given moment, thus heightening win on a year-in and year-out basis? Well, seasons it had with Second-year head the rivalry even more so. Though recently perhaps Hundley said it best. “My first year a 1-9 overall record, coach Rick Mathiesen, USC has looked to be the more dominant here, we lost 50-0 to USC and this was the including 0-5 in the however, is excited team within the rivalry, the UCLA Bruins first year we’ve beaten them in a while. Ocean League. about now 14-year-old seem to be building something special in What we learned was when we finally start Already Hawthorne sophomore quarterback Westwood and could soon monopolize the working together and bonding as a team, is showing promise Chris Murray, who crown of college football in Los Angeles we can beat anybody we want. Last year with more than double A Hawthorne ballcarrier practices running through the line of started his first varsity for years to come. was when we really showed it, and it started the player turnout scrimmage in a recent football practice. The Cougars are under game as a 13-year-old Since the 1999 season, the Bruins have paying dividends.” At the forefront of all of of 78 this season to first-year head coach Donald Paysinger and begin their season freshman last year in only beaten the Trojans in head-to-head the newly found belief in themselves for the only 35 last year. The by Joe Snyder Lawndale’s 47-12 lossagainst West Ranch High at Valencia Friday at 7 p.m. Photo matchups twice--once in 2006 and once last Bruins is Mora. The enthusiasm and vigor Cougars, however, to South East. After that year when the Bruins took a 38-28 victory that he has brought to the program has almost will be rather young with little experience. contest, though, he was declared ineligible at the Rose Bowl. While the Bruins’ victory entirely revived it, in almost an identically On offense, Hawthorne will return seniors until he turned 14 about a month later. When in 2006 didn’t reap many rewards over the similar way to Pete Carroll when he turned wide receiver Ryan Smith and lineman De reaching 14, Murray was able to start a few following years, there is widespread belief the Trojans around before leaving for the Shawn Smith (no relation to Ryan). De additional games. around Los Angeles that last year’s victory NFL once again. Shawn stands at six-foot-three and weighs Murray’s prime targets are expected to be could create a trend in the Bruins’ favor. Though Mora and the Bruins enjoyed a 280 pounds. Also back is senior quarterback junior wide receiver Austin Managon and senior Not only did the win secure UCLA’s Pac- successful season last year, there is much to Patrick Washington, although he played just slot receiver Richard Rivera. Seniors Davion 12 Southern Division championship for the be done this year in order to prove that the two games last year before a season-ending Ward and Deandre Shaw are expected to start second season in a row, but head coach Jim team was not simply a one-year wonder. Albeit leg injury. as running backs. Neither started last season. Mora, Jr., formerly of NFL fame, took over a winning season last year, the Bruins still Six-foot, 225-pound junior Eric Matoles is Lawndale’s defense could be a little better the team in his first year and seemed to rode out inconsistency, losing to Cal, Oregon expected to be a key starter on the Cougars’ with five returning starters, led by six-foot- install a system that has the players playing State, Stanford and Baylor. In order to get offensive line, along with junior Paris two, 245-pound junior defensive end/offensive to their full potential. “The city is different back on the map, losses like those must be McDaniels. Hawthorne should have good tackle David Tuivai. Seniors, outside linebacker now,: said UCLA starting quarterback Brett few and far between. The Bruins must also experience on its offensive line with four of and middle linebacker Brian Alexander and Hundley, who led the Bruins to their victory win despite the loss of some key players like its front seven being returning starters. Beau Estaija are also returning starters. over the Trojans last year. “Just walking last year’s starting running back Johnathan On defense, the Cougars will be led by senior “We’ll be young and a little inexperienced,” around, everybody knows you for that game. Franklin and starters from the offensive line. lineman Bryan Gonzalez, senior linebacker Mathiesen said. “We’ll be a lot stronger next You hear, ‘Oh, you’re the quarterback that Additionally, the road schedule looks quite Javonte Jackson, senior cornerback Jermaine year and we’ll be in a new Pioneer league. beat SC. You beat SC.’ It’s so cool.” What threatening for the Bruins, to say the least. To Martin, senior defensive back Eddie Thomas We have several inexperienced seniors.” would be even cooler for UCLA fans would make the Pac-12 title game for the third year and defensive back Ryan Smith. Thomas will After this year, the Pioneer League will have be if Hundley and the Bruins could do it in a row, UCLA must not only beat Stanford also start as wingback on offense. “He’s got all four Torrance schools, including now Bay again this year and provide the framework and Oregon in back-to-back weeks on the great speed,” Paysinger said of Thomas. League school West Torrance, but will also for a decade-long run. road, but also must find a way to defeat USC Paysinger added that Hawthorne is a feature Leuzinger (also still in the Bay) and It’s weird to think about the USC Trojans and Arizona on the road after beating both hungry team. “We’re young as far as football Lawndale. This will mean a Lawndale rivalry in not being the talk of the town. Since the tough division opponents last year as well. knowledge,” Paysinger said. “We have a league starting as the three schools--Lawndale, ‘99 season, they have not only dominated While the balance of power has not great group of kids. We hope to return to Leuzinger and Hawthorne--are currently in the rivalry between the two schools, but necessarily shifted quite yet, it is certainly the glory days.” That means bringing back three separate leagues. The Cougars will still have also the Pac-12 (formerly the Pac- looking like the UCLA Bruins have all of the great periods of the Hawthorne football be in the Ocean with Beverly Hills, Santa 10) itself. All good runs must come to an the leverage that they need in order to take program that included CIF-Southern Section Monica and Culver City, but with Compton end, however. Before 1999, it was UCLA control of the Los Angeles cross-town rivalry. championships in 1954 and 1992, along with Centennial and El Segundo. The Cardinals that was in charge of the city. The Bruins See Sports, page 4 a runner-up finish in 1959 and several other have 15 seniors on the squad, seven of whom league championship squads. Hawthorne’s last are starters. league football title and even one that made Lawndale visits an always very strong South Harry’s & squad from Ventura before falling 35-18. From opener,” Mathiesen said. “They usually haveEast squad that won the CIF-Los Angeles CityDivision II crown two years ago and made thefinals last year. “South East will be a toughthe playoffs was in 2004. In that year, theCougars made the quarterfinals and put up agood fight against a powerful St. Bonaventure McCoy’s Moving streak dating from 2005 to 2010. game against Hawthorne on September 6.The Cardinals begin the Pioneer League ona good group of kids.” Next will be a homethere, Hawthorne lapsed into the dark agesthat included a miserable 45-game losing The Cougars’ first opponent, West Ranch, October 11 at home against El Segundo, who comes from the very highly competitive should be a strong contender for the league Time starts at your door Foothill League, which includes other top title with numerous talented players returning. Free use of boxes & wardrobes Southern California squads in Valencia, ANIMO BEGINS ON FRIDAY “Moving handled Short notice moves Newhall Hart and Canyon Country Canyon. The Animo Leadership High football with patience Home-Office-Apartments Hawthorne’s second game is at Centinela team of Inglewood opens at home (site to and kindness!” Local and Long Distance Valley School District rival Lawndale on be determined) against Animo of South Los September 6. Angeles Friday at 6 p.m. Leuzinger, Inglewood Licensed & Insured – CAL-T-160-989 The Cougars begin Ocean play at home and Morningside all start on September 6 Family Owned & Operated for 66 Years against Culver City on October 11. Paysinger at 7 p.m. believes that Culver City, Santa Monica and The Olympians start at home against Eastside Free Estimates 310.329.3493 league. The Monarchs are on the road against AnimoHigh from Lancaster. The Sentinels are athome against L.A. City school Washington.Inglewood will be the top opponents in the s South L.A. at a site to be determined. •
Lawndale 08_29_13
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