You could see it in Mason Mulvihill’s eyes when he was ball boy for the Culver City High School football team. Five years later his eyes still are intense, only he is on the field. Instead of tossing the football to officials as the ball boy, he is handing the ball to them after one of his big plays.

He is durable, too.

As a wide receiver and defensive back, Mulvihill never comes off the field. He also is on the return team. After four weeks, he leads the .500 Centaurs with 23 catches for 429 yards and with 38 tackles on defense plus two interceptions. He also has scored three touchdowns.

The 2-2 Centaurs, who defeated University 34-21 last Friday, will travel to Channel Islands High in Oxnard on Friday to face the 3-2 Raiders. Gametime is 7 o’clock.

Culver City returns home on Friday, Oct. 9, to play Lawndale, one of the best teams in the Ocean League.  The much improved Centaurs will need to cut down on penalties to win the next two games. One reason Culver City has improved is the play of Mulvihill. “Mason has really come,” said assistant coach Mike Levy. “He is a leader in the locker room, on the field and off the field.”

“We are very thankful for Mason,” said Coach Jahmal Wright after the win over Uni. “His senior leadership is carrying us.”

Mulvihill is humble and hungry.  “I am just enjoying the high school experience,” he said.  “I do whatever I can to help. I love playing offense and defense. Putting it all on the field is the best part of playing football.”

Mulvihill credits the coaching staff for keeping the two-way players in good shape. “We run every day, before practice, during practice, after practice,” he said.

Mulvihill will tell his teammates have contributed plenty to this year’s smoother start. Quarterback Johnathan Martin has thrown for 934 yards and run for 255 yards.  Running back Fred Poindexter has rushed for 351 yards, and defensive back Mekhi Ware has six interceptions.