Reseda in First City Final With 35-13 Win

Reseda High Coach Joel Schaeffer knew that Los Angeles High had been decimated by eligibility problems, and that his team would have to exploit the Romans’ weaknesses if it was to make it into the City Section 2-A finals.

What Schaeffer didn’t forsee, however, was that a fill-in running back on his own team would provide the pivotal role.

Little-used Darrell Armstrong rushed for 147 yards on just seven carries as Reseda defeated Los Angeles, 35-13, in a semifinal game Friday night at Westchester High. Armstrong, a 5-7, 145-pound senior, has been the back-up to workhorse halfback Ronald Wilkinson all season, but Friday, it was Armstrong who carried the load.

“We’ve been running the dive play all season long,” Armstrong said. “Tonight, it was just open, and they weren’t able to stop it.”

The only thing that did stop Armstrong were persistent leg cramps in the second half.

Schaeffer knows all about Armstrong’s legs.

“He is a hell of an athlete,” Schaeffer said. “He runs the quarter mile in about 48 seconds. They were keying on Wilkinson, so we just thought we’d try Armstrong.”

The Los Angeles offense also cramped up. Reseda’s defense again accounted for much of the team’s success, limiting the Romans to just 93 yards, while intercepting Los Angeles quarterback Shatu Blake three times.

“We knew they were a big-play team,” Schaeffer said. “But tonight, ours were a little bigger.”

The Reseda win means that the team will face University High Lincoln Thursday night in the City 2-A final. Just four weeks ago, University defeated Reseda, 29-24, for the Pac 8 title.

“As far as I can tell, this is the first time any Reseda team has made it to the championship game,” Schaeffer said. “And that dates all the way back to when the school was established in 1955.”

Los Angeles took advantage of a Reseda turnover to take a brief 7-0 lead in the first quarter Friday. After Reseda’s Marcus Coleman intercepted a Blake bomb at the Reseda 20, fullback Chris Vargas fumbled on the first Regent play. Adrian David recovered for Los Angeles, and the Romans scored three plays later on a two-yard run by Blake.

Reseda’s fist score was set up by a 16-yard run by Armstrong, giving the Regents a first down at the Los Angeles 12.

Quarterback Donnie Grant scored on a rollout on the next play, tying the game at 7-7.

Reseda scored again on its next possession on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Grant to David Wilson.

Reseda stayed on the ground in the second half, as Wilkinson scored on runs of six and nine yard, and fullback Chris Vargas scored from 33 yards.

Grant attempted just six passes, completing two for 52 yards and a touchdown. Wilson had two receptions for 99 yards.