By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – While there are still two weeks left in the season following tonight’s game at Jackie Robinson Stadium, the match-up between Dorsey and Crenshaw will likely decide the Coliseum League championship.
That’s the way it has been for most of the decade as the winner of the battle between the Dons and Cougars has gone on to capture the league title every year since 2001. Both teams enter tonight’s contest at 2-0 and are riding three-game winning streaks. Adding even more cachet to the game, the matchup is the Nike 5 Days 2 Friday game of the week.
Although Dorsey enters the game with a 6-1 record, the 4-2 Cougars might actually be favored. While the Dons have been plagued with injuries the past few weeks, Crenshaw has been on a roll since losing its first three games of the season (a 42-34 loss to Lakewood in the season opener was later deemed a forfeit win for the Cougars). The Cougars blasted Locke last week 33-14 and two weeks ago whipped Fremont 46-8 – a team Dorsey edged 21-10 last week.
“Crenshaw is loaded, but we’re going to try and stay with them,” Dorsey coach Paul Knox told the Los Angeles Wave following the Dons’ win over Fremont.
Crenshaw started out the season with several tough games. The Cougars followed the shootout loss to Lakewood with a 20-0 loss to Norco and a 15-12 defeat by A.B. Miller. The three teams have a combined record of 17-5 (not counting four Lakewood forfeit losses) with Miller undefeated at 7-0.
Meanwhile Dorsey feasted on three Los Angeles City Section teams, Chatsworth, Granada Hills and North Hollywood, who are a combined 6-16. After a 44-6 loss to Birmingham of Lake Balboa, the Dons edged Hamilton in a nonleague matchup 22-7 before opening league play with a 28-7 victory over Manual Arts.
Still, the Dons have been able to post wins despite playing with second and sometimes third-string players at quarterback and running back. Wide receiver Freddy Lovo took over at quarterback after the starting quarterback transferred. However he has missed time with a broken hand and was replaced by Brandon Edwards, who came up big in a win over Manual Arts with 262 yards passing. Lovo returned against Fremont and threw for 103 yards.
At running back, Jarrian Washington broke his collarbone before the season even started. Sophomore Robby Gassoway has filled in admirably, but has also been bitten by the injury bug. Gassoway was able to come up big in a win over Fremont as he scored on a running play and also ran back a fumble 93 yards for a score.
The defending Coliseum League champion Cougars have a three-pronged rushing attack led by Hayes Pullard, Gregory Norwood and sophomore speedster DeAnthony Thomas. Pullard rushed for 106 yards on just eight carries in the win over Fremont with Norwood adding 86 and Thomas posting 75. Against Locke, Thomas erupted for 187 yards on 16 carries, including a 77-yard touchdown run. He also ran for 161 yards and three scores on just five carries in a win over Culver City last month.
Pullard is also a standout on defense, earning All-City honors as a sophomore at linebacker last year. He’s joined on the defense by defensive end Nicholas Alexander (6-4, 240) and defensive back Marcus Andrews.
The offense does not rely entirely on the running game, however. Returning quarterback Marquise Thompson calls the signals and he has one of the city’s top receivers in Noel Grigsby, who caught 15 touchdown passes last year.