The time is now for the Culver City High School football team. All signs lead to a deep playoff run because the Centaurs have the talent and they have been placed in the lowest CIF Southern Section division in the last 20 years.
They open start Division 11 playoffs Friday at 7:30 inside the Jerry Chabola Stadium against Valley View of the Moreno Valley.
The Centaurs finished 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the Ocean League to tie El Segundo and Lawndale for the championship.
Valley View was 6-4, and 3-2 in league play. The Eagles are led by running backs Justin Keeling who ran for 1105 yards and Dwight Brown who rushed for 938 yards.
Culver City is led by quarterback Jonathan Martin, running back Brandon Oum, receivers Kevin McGuire, Charles Ross, Devin Osborne and Justin Cox. Other offensive players that the Centaurs look to are linemen Nick Swinford, Jayden Porter, Cameron Willaims, Sebastian Knowles, Nathan Stennett, Roman Hayden and Justin Berry.
On defense Culver City relies on defensive backs Mekhi Ware, Ross, Tyler Luckett and Alexnder Smith. Elijah Salazar, Jordan Armstrong and Elijah Zavala lead a strong group of linebackers
The kicking game has been solid behind the feet of place kicker Carlos Barillo and punter and kickoff specialist Robert Simon.
After beating Beverly Hills 63-8 last Friday, the Centaurs need to regroup.
“We are taking the playoffs one game at a time,” said Coach Jahmal Wright after their win over Beverly Hills.
“If we do what we are supposed to do, it does not matter who our opponent is. We just need to play Culver City football. I think that will take us a long way in the playoffs.”
Assistant coach Cornel Myles knows it all starts with a good week of practice. “We are going to have to have outstanding practices,” said Myles after the Beverly Hills game. “We are looking for our players to rise up and play to their potential. We have a lot of talent and we need to win our first round game and then we will see what happens after that.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com