Page 4 September 20 , 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE “Fight Off” Becomes Trojans’ New Motto Up and Adam By Adam Serrao quarter, the Stanford Cardinal and second-year Spartans Slightly Simmer Downhead coach David Shaw had all of the luckWhether you’ve realized it or not, it has been a downward spiral for the USC Trojans that they needed on their side. “We don’t want By Adam Serrao different look for us. But we went back and since week one of the regular season. Initially to be that team known for one victory,” Shaw To start the season, the South High Spartans corrected it.” Corrected it they certainly did and stated as the number one team in the land, the said. “We want to be known for victory after have been just as hot as the weather that we all McClain was the main reason why. To begin Trojans had a convincing win over Hawaii in victory, stacking wins on top of wins.” Well, have been experiencing here in Torrance lately. the second half, he led Costa on scoring drive their first game since being reinitiated after Shaw is off to a good start. He’s already got Once they took the football field in their first capped off by a 47-yard run and an 18-yard being scrutinized for penalties brought upon the two wins in a row against that team from down two games of the year, the Spartans sizzled touchdown run to quickly tie the game at 7-7. school by the now Miami Dolphins’ standout south that happens to be the Trojans. Add like an egg on the asphalt. Two games, two That was only the first score of a 28-point run running back Reggie Bush. That was week one. to the equation that starting quarterback and wins for South High and head coach Joshua in the third quarter that would see Costa go Though the team won by 39 points in their probable first round draft pick Matt Barkley Waybright. Needless to say, the Spartans and up 28-7. Each team would manage another opener, they dropped a spot in the rankings is 0-4 in his college career against the team their faithful have to be feeling good about this touchdown before the game’s end, but by from number one to number two in the polls with a weird-looking Christmas tree as its season in general. Last Friday night, though, that time it was basically inconsequential as behind the Alabama Crimson Tide. Week two mascot. Okay, maybe God wasn’t involved in the Spartans’ first real test of the year would the Mustangs steamrolled their way to a win. against Syracuse was a little bit closer of a any menial activities like football at all, but come at home against Mira Costa. Costa, a Though the Spartans started off strong, their game, with the Trojans only winning by 13 when Josh Nunes threw a go-ahead 37-yard Bay League team and traditional football offense really began to sputter in the second points (a slim margin of victory for those touchdown pass to Zach Ertz in the fourth powerhouse, had added motivation coming off half. They didn’t manage a first down until faithful to the cardinal and gold). Week three quarter of what was a seven-point victory for a loss against Serra. Though the game started late in the fourth quarter and were limited was a game that every Trojan fan and player the Cardinal last Saturday night, it certainly off close, South eventually got hit by a freight to only 31 total yards in the second half of had circled on their schedules: The Stanford seemed to be heaven-sent for Stanford. train in its 35-14 first loss of the season. play. “That’s a great team Mira Costa has, Cardinal. Winners of three of the last three Perhaps the biggest surprise about the The Spartans came out licking their chops so I’m real proud that our kids battled,” said meetings against USC... But this was supposed Trojans’ loss last week was that the UCLA early as they jumped on a fumble from Mira Waybright. “McClain was just unbelievable to be the Trojans’ year. This was supposed to Bruins won in their game against the University be a championship in the making. Lane Kiffin, of Houston. Now, the Bruins sit a game The Spartans came out licking their chops Matt Barkley and incomparable athletic talent ahead of the Trojans in the Pac-12 standings. early as they jumped on a fumble from Mira Costa. across the roster meant a championship to those Maybe that standing won’t last for long, but who followed college football all across Los who knows? Maybe it will. For now, the Angeles and beyond. But with a 21-14 third Bruins have bragging rights and Kiffin and Costa starting quarterback Khalil McClain on in the second half. He had some great runs.” week defeat, the Trojans’ hopes of glory and the rest of the USC campus must be fuming the first possession of the game. With a little McClain wound up producing almost all of the redemption all but flew right out the window before they lie down to sleep at night--only eight-play drive, the Spartans would make their Mira Costa offense. He rushed for 111 yards to dissipate amidst the clouds that formed to have nightmares laced with blue and gold way to the end zone and watch starting running on nine carries and scored two touchdowns in above Stanford Stadium last Saturday night before they wake up in a cold sweat, already back Ryan Bowman punch it in for a score the third quarter alone. The Spartans managed in Palo Alto, California. anticipating the week 11 matchup between on a five-yard run to give South a 7-0 lead. 148 total yards on the day, most of which There was no more Luck on their sideline. the two cross-town rivals. It would stay that way until the second half. came in the first half of play. Costa on the No, that Stanford Heisman Trophy runner-up The real story here isn’t about the UCLA “South came at us with a different scheme in other hand tallied a total of 414. The Spartans is now making big plays in the NFL for the Bruins. That’s a story for another day and the first half,” opposing quarterback McClain will look to get back on track next week, but Indianapolis Colts. No matter, though. When another time. What really matters is that the explained. “They came out with some different will face up with another power opponent in the clock hit zeroes at the end of the fourth See Fight Off, page 12 stunts with their linebackers and it was a See Spartans, page 12 310.606.8000 | BankManhattan.com 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 1100 El Segundo, California 90245 NMLS #401422 ©2012 Bank of Manhattan, N.A.
Torrance 9.20.12
To see the actual publication please follow the link above