Page 4 November 7, 2013 Joe’s Sports Hawthorne Easily Picks Up First Ocean Win Hawthorne High Running Back Paris McDaniel runs past Beverly Hills linebacker Dylan Rutigliano in last Friday’s Ocean League football game. The Normans won their first league game over the Normans 50-6. Hawthorne closes its season at home against Santa Monica Friday at 7 p.m. Photo by Joe Snyder. By Joe Snyder Last Friday, everything was pointing to the Hawthorne High football team’s way. First, it was its annual homecoming game against Beverly Hills, which is winless and on its way to one of its worst seasons in its almost 100-year history of the high school. On top of that, it marked head coach Donald Paysinger’s birthday. Paysinger was the Normans’ head mentor in the past three seasons. Hawthorne’s gridders, who entered the contest with a 12-game league losing streak dating back to the 2011 season, did not let Paysinger down as the Cougars started fast and rolled to a 50-6 rout of Beverly Hills, which fell to 0-9 overall and 0-4 in Ocean play. The Cougars won their first league game against three losses and are 3-6 overall. Hawthorne had a balanced offense, but particularly a strong performance by senior wide receiver/running back/defensive back Eddie Thomas, who caught four passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns. He got the Cougars off to a 22-0 first quarter lead on catches of 40 and 30 yards for scores from quarterback Pablo Bernal, who completed six of eight passes for 183 yards and three TDs. Thomas added a 68-yard reception from Bernal that gave Hawthorne a 43-0 lead early in the third quarter. Paris McDaniel continued his strong performance, rushing for 171 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. He scored on runs of 24 yards early in the second period and the Cougars’ final TD from 19 yards out that gave them a 50-0 bulge shortly before the end of the third quarter. Defensive back Rian Smith had a 35-yard interception return for a TD that enabled Hawthorne to build a 36-0 lead shortly before halftime. The Normans broke the shutout in the fourth period on an eight-yard scoring run from running back Sebastian Torres. “We worked hard for this game this week,” Paysinger said of last Friday’s victory. “These guys were fired up.” According to sources, it was Hawthorne’s first win over Beverly Hills since 1998. “Our offensive line did a very good job blocking,” McDaniel said. “We executed our plays and it worked out.” It was a great Friday night for the Cougars, but they will have to work and play a lot harder this Friday as they host a very good Santa Monica High squad, beginning at 7 p.m. The Vikings are 3-1 in league and 5-4 overall after shutting out Inglewood 21-0 last Friday at Santa Monica City College. Santa Monica, which was ranked as high as third in the CIF-Southern Section Western Division early in the season before three nonleague losses to high-quality teams (Santa Ana Mater Dei, Valencia and Newhall Hart) and a 17-14 overtime defeat to host and Ocean leader Culver City on October 25, is currently in second behind the Centaurs in league and rated eighth in the division. VIKINGS BLANK SENTINELS Inglewood High’s football team was shut out by host Santa Monica 21-0 in a key Ocean League game last Friday at Santa Monica City College. The Vikings’ very stingy defense did not give the Sentinels, who fell to 2-2 in Ocean play and 4-5 overall, much hope as the latter had only 90 total offensive yards, including just 23 on the ground. Inglewood quarterback Zaire Andre completed just six of 20 passes for 67 yards and he was intercepted twice. Despite the loss, the Sents had a few bright spots. Mister Jackson caught two passes for 53 yards and that was most of Inglewood’s offense. On defense, Trevon Benton had 14 tackles, including seven solo. Tormasi Manuatu added 12 tackles, seven of those solo. Inglewood trailed just 7-0 at halftime, but Santa Monica (5-4, 3-1) pulled away with one touchdown apiece in the third and fourth quarters. The Sentinels will host cross-town rival Morningside in a key game that could decide a Western Division playoff spot Friday at 7 p.m. at Coleman Field. CULVER CRUSHES MORNINGSIDE Morningside High’s football team was thoroughly shut out by Ocean League-leading Culver City 47-0 last Friday at Coleman Field. Coming off a critical 17-14 overtime win over defending two-time Ocean champion Santa Monica on October 25, the Monarchs proved to be no match for the Centaurs (ranked sixth in the CIF-Southern Section Western Division). Morningside, which is 5-4 overall and 2-2 in Ocean play, faces Inglewood in a cross-town rival showdown at Coleman Field on Friday at 7 p.m. This contest should decide the third place playoff spot from the Ocean. LAWNDALE, LEUZINGER REMAIN WINLESS IN LEAGUE Lawndale High’s football team fell to 0-4 in Pioneer League play after a 27-13 loss to host Torrance last Friday at Zamperini Field. The Cardinals, who had a 4-1 non-league slate, hope to close out league with a victory as they visit Centennial High in Compton Friday at 6 p.m. Leuzinger continued to struggle in the prestigious Bay League with a 42-0 home loss to Mira Costa last Friday. The Olympians (0-9, 0-4) close their season at West Torrance (7-2, 2-2) Friday at 7 p.m. Leuzinger has yet to score in a Bay game, being outscored by a combined total of 184-0. • Leuzinger Faces Mira Costa Photos by Shelley Kemp Brandon Jenkins carries the ball. Junior Nathaniel Vaugh attempts a long completion. Below: Junior Quarterback Edson Santos lets fly a pass for a gain.
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