Page 6 November 22 , 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Kiffin Keeps on Whiffin’ Up and Adam By Adam Serrao season said. “It’s an embarrassment of riches. Warriors Win Once MoreYou’ve got to find a way with those guys.” ItThere is absolutely no doubt that the players on the USC Trojans’ football team are some of certainly is an embarrassment to have all of By Adam Serrao interceptions in my career, but I never ran one the, if not the most, talented college football the talent in the world but be on the verge of The West High Warriors are officially back. back before,” Notch said of his spectacular players in the nation. That’s why when Matt losing five games in a season. That’s why when After a scary stretch in league play where the defensive play. Now, Notch can run all the Barkley announced in the offseason that he news broke shortly after their loss to UCLA boys from West Torrance lost three games way to the semifinals of the playoffs with planned to play a part in the team’s “serious that Kiffin will indeed be back for another in a row, they snuck into the postseason running back Barry Thomas and the rest of unfinished business” that they had to tend year as head coach of the Trojans, it came as and began to look like themselves again his team. Thomas tallied 103 yards and a to, everyone immediately crowned them as somewhat of a surprise to those who follow two weeks ago in a 45-20 shellacking of touchdown on the night. The Warriors have national champions before even one game had college football everywhere. Mark Saxon of St. Joseph in the first round of the playoffs. now set up their semifinal matchup against the chance to get underway. With all of the ESPNLA.com reported that athletic director Last week would bring a tougher test, Atascadero, who beat Canyon Country last excitement surrounding the team as it entered Pat Haden assured coach Lane Kiffin that he however. The team that started the Warriors week. This will mark the first semifinal the season at number one in the AP poll, it would return in 2013 regardless of the outcome on their slide back in early October with a appearance for the Warriors since 2006 and is an understatement to say that the Trojans of the Trojans’ last few games. The decision 62-42 beating was back, but this time in the all indications are that they’re ready to go. have been a huge disappointment this season. by Haden is so questionable because if Kiffin second round of the playoffs. The Mira Costa NoRTh hIGh Already having been eliminated from Rose can’t win with all of the talent that he has on Mustangs were the quarterfinal matchup for Oak Park may have just been a warm-up Bowl consideration with last Saturday’s loss his team this year, what will the team look the Warriors, but head coach Greg Holt had game for North High. With a 27-0 victory to UCLA, the Trojans not only have to watch like next year when they all leave for the NFL. his team thinking revenge. The game was at two weeks ago, the Saxons received the next as UCLA finishes the season above them in To be fair, Kiffin isn’t shying away from the same place and at the same time, under best thing to a bye week in the first round the standings, but also must watch as their any of the blame. “Obviously, we’re extremely the bright Friday night lights of West High’s of the playoffs. They knew that facing off bitter cross-town rivals compete in the Pac-10 disappointed in the season,” Kiffin said. “We’re home field. The only difference was that this against a Gladstone team that had only lost title game--a position that USC is accustomed too talented to have this many losses and that time, the Warriors brought it to the Mustangs one game all season would be a bigger to being in most of the time. With all of the falls on me.” Unfortunately, simply taking the and advanced through the quarterfinals and challenge. But this seems like its North turmoil surrounding the team in a season that blame doesn’t make everything better. You have on to the semis with their first victory over High’s year. With an explosive offense and was supposed to be one of the Trojans’ best ever, to be willing to make changes and actively try Mira Costa in six years in a 49-42 beating a defense that knows how to show up when is there anyone else to blame but Lane Kiffin? to improve your team. Kiffin hasn’t done that. last week. the game is on the line, the Saxons have all Losses to Stanford, Arizona, Oregon and Recognizing that he is the problem is the first When the last second finally ticked off of the makings necessary to take it to the UCLA have all dropped the Trojans to 7-4 on step in getting the ship turned around for the of the clock, players, coaches and fans championship game this year. They brought the season with three of those losses coming Trojans, but Kiffin apparently isn’t the one from West High all rushed onto the field in themselves a step closer last Friday night at in the last month. Not only that, but coming up who needs to begin to realize that he is the excitement over the second round playoff Citrus College in Glendora when they gave this week they have a huge game against the problem with the team. As athletic director, Pat win. That excitement was well-deserved. The Gladstone its second loss of the year with Notre Dame Fighting Irish that certainly might Haden makes the decisions and if he doesn’t just wind up adding another loss to be tacked on do something quickly, his job will be on the to the Trojans’ list of failures this year. All that line soon too. “We fought,” said Mira Costa head coach having been said, someone deserves the blame. The thing about Lane Kiffin is that he has Don Morrow. “But hats off to them. Kiffin’s star quarterback doesn’t appear to be never been a successful head coach. He was They played hard and they executed.” improving at all. After a stellar season last year, a talented coordinator under head coach Pete Matt Barkley still shows big play potential, but Carroll, but once he was plucked out of the according to NFL executives, his draft stock is college system and brought to the NFL to last time the Warriors beat the Mustangs in a 42-34 win to advance into the semifinals. steadily plummeting with every game that he coach the Raiders, it was quickly evident any capacity was in 2006. Now, West can Everyone knows that the North High takes the field. The defense that Kiffin’s father that he was not fit for the job. Al Davis drew vanquish those nightmares with a defeat of offense is one to be reckoned with, but (Monte Kiffin) runs is clearly not the same scrutiny upon himself by saying of Kiffin, “It its interdivision foe. It wasn’t easy, though. coming into the second playoff game of the defense that he had previously employed in the was after a short period of time that I realized Both teams came out strong, but Mira Costa season, no one thought that a backup would NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all those I didn’t hire the person I thought I was hiring.” led for almost the entire first half. Every shine the brightest. Corey Cox did just that. years. This year with the Trojans, it is ranked Davis went on to call Kiffin a liar and accused time the Warriors would score, the Mustangs Cox rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown 65th in the nation and is awful, to say the least. him of attempting to embarrass and discredit would answer back, trading scores with West on only nine carries and picked up 76 yards All of that aside, when asked by SI.com how the organization. Well in retrospect, maybe but leading by seven points for almost the and a touchdown through the air to come much of the blame for the team’s poor season Davis was right. After a 5-15 tenure with the entire first half. “We fought,” said Mira Costa up huge for the Saxons last Friday night. is on him, a restrained Kiffin replied, “All of Raiders, Kiffin moved on to Tennessee where head coach Don Morrow. “But hats off to “He’s got some fantastic wheels and he put it.” He may not be getting many of the play he was constantly under scrutiny for outlandish them. They played hard and they executed.” them to use tonight,” head coach Todd Croce calls right for the Trojans over the past month comments and several NCAA violations before It was indeed flawless execution that turned said of his backup running back. Perhaps or two, but that response is one call made by he surprised everyone in the organization and the tide of the game in the Warriors’ favor. at no time were those wheels put to better Kiffin that belongs right between the goal posts. abruptly jumped ship to take over for Carroll Just when it looked like Costa was driving use than halfway through the fourth quarter When a team full of talented players doesn’t at USC. While Kiffin hasn’t necessarily done again to take the lead in the game, J.J. Allen with a 48-yard touchdown run that put the match its potential, the brunt of the blame the same things to USC yet, this season may intercepted the ball and ran it back 20 yards game away for good for the Saxons. “I had needs to be placed squarely on the shoulders indeed be the start of something of which to for a touchdown to swing the momentum in great blocking up front from the lineman,” of the head coach. That’s why when SI.com take sight. To sum it all up, throughout the West’s favor. “I just saw it, got it and ran for Cox said of his teammates. “Our receivers spoke with 10 anonymous opposing head entirety of his head coaching career one thing my life,” said Allen of his game-changing gave me outside leverage, so I just saw the coaches around the league, they all agreed that has become noticeably evident about Lane play. “We knew we had it tonight. We just defenders over-pursue and cut it back. I just USC’s poor play is solely because of Kiffin. Kiffin. He can’t be trusted. That is one thing had to stop their drive and we did that.” The used my speed against them.” Cox wasn’t the “There’s no excuses with the players they’ve that USC might want to take note of before touchdown put the Warriors up by seven at only one lighting it up on offense, though. The got,” one coach who faced USC earlier this it becomes entirely too late. • 21-14 and they never looked back from there, usual suspects were put to work too. Starting holding the lead for the entirety of the game quarterback Jorge Hernandez completed 15 of from that point forward. 23 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns, The Warriors put up 14 points in every while Devante Jenkins had six receptions for quarter but the fourth and starting quarterback 88 yards and a touchdown. Joey Notch was the instigator of the scoring The Saxons got started early in the game all night long. The big senior passed for 349 and never relinquished their advantage, leading yards on 26 for 43 passing and a touchdown. by as much as 21-7 in the first half. Their Notch didn’t only do his damage in the victory now gives them seven in a row and MAKE A for 53 yards and three touchdowns. Notch The Saxons now advance to the divisionpocket. He also carried the ball six timesthey have also won 10 out of their last 11. DIFFERENCE 75-yard interception return for a touchdown a Bishop Diego team that took out Southsemifinals where they will face off againstdidn’t just help his team on offense--his in the fourth quarter put the Warriors ahead High by a score of 43-9 in the first round Earn extra money caring 49-35 and pretty much put the game out of of the playoffs. The game will be at North for an adult with a reach for the Mustangs. “I’ve had a lot of High this Friday night. • developmental disability in your home. “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Refer a Friend / Earn $250 Motivation determines what you do. 562.424.0066 Attitude determines how well you do it.”~ Lou Holtz WWW.MENTORSWANTED.COM
Torrance 11_22_12
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