December 11, 2014

 

By Kenneth D. Miller 

Assistant Managing Editor 

 

Los Angeles High School joined the City Section championship celebrations for the first time in almost 50 years with thrilling 28-14 victory over Monroe in the Division III Championship at the Coliseum on Saturday Dec. 6.

 

Led by sophomore quarterback Kaymen Cureton and junior receiver Elijah Thompson, Romans head coach Eric Scott completed the most remarkable transformation in City Section history. Cureton passed for 290 yards on 20 of 34 completions.

 

Scott, a former receivers coach at UCLA had proved once before that he could rebuild a high school program when he turned around a doormat Compton Centennial program several years ago, but the reclamation program at Los Angeles was epic.

 

It was just a couple of years ago when he Romans won just one of 10 games, and the school last played for a City title in 1977. Their previous victory was in 1965.

 

Meanwhile, Los Angeles was not school with a Black football coach rejoicing over winning a City title at the Coliseum on Dec. 6.

 

Hamilton coach Ernest King, who just two years ago buried one his captains when Bijan Shoushtari was senselessly murdered while riding down Crenshaw Blvd. His killer has still not been captured despite the $50, 000 reward being offered.

 

However, his Hamilton Yankees boldly predicted their Division II victory, wearing championship T-shorts before the game was played.

 

Subsequently, the Yankees never trailed in the D-II title game and defeated Sylmar 58-30 finished the season riding a 12 game winning steak.

 

The Yankees wasted no time taking the opening kickoff return Jericho Flowers for an 86-yard touchdown. Flowers with the help of teammate Russell Shaw playing on defense and offense proved to be more than enough.

 

As the Yankees supported went wild after their team led at halftime 23-9, Shaw saved his best for last scoring four of five touchdowns in the second half. Shaw enjoyed catches of 15, 50 and 54 yards and then for good measure returned an interception 90 yards for another score.

 

Finally, in the D-I title game, it appeared that the stars were aligned for the Carson Colts to end the domination shared by Narbonne and Crenshaw. After all the Colts took care of Crenshaw in the quarterfinals and defeated Narbonne in Marine League play.

 

Some much for that, the Gauchos captured their third title in four years with a come from behind 33-20 victory.

 

Narbonne had the tough task of stopping arguably the best player in the city in Carson standout senior Jabari Minix. The Colts took a 17-13 lead and then increased it to 20-13 at the half. They would never score again as the Gauchos scored 20 unanswered to seal the deal.

 

Minix had a thrilling 89-kickoff return and some great wildcat quarterback play, but Carson had to rely on Minix all game, which was too much, and it didn’t work this time.

 

Narbonne came out in second half to take away the momentum, with a Sean Riley 90 yard kickoff return taking the lead back 19-17. The Gauchos defensive played solid in second half while the offense grinded out few more touchdowns to cap off a great season Narbonne captured its sixth football title in school history.

Category: Sports