Crenshaw Still Trying to Recover After 39-36 Loss to Kennedy

At Crenshaw High School, the saying that losing a close game builds character probably is being uttered often this week because the Cougars’ 39-36 loss to Kennedy of Granada Hills last Thursday night certainly fits this description.

In a nonconference City game that will be remembered for its controversial finish, Crenshaw lost on a 35-yard field goal by Kennedy’s Jason Rosen on the game’s last play, which capped a nine-point Kennedy rally in game’s final seconds.

Rosen’s field goal came after Kennedy scored a touchdown to tie the game 36-36 with 17 seconds remaining, and then had its extra point kick blocked by Crenshaw. On the ensuing kickoff, Kennedy recovered its own onside kick near midfield and then advanced 30 yards on a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against Crenshaw, setting up the winning kick.

Despite the loss, Crenshaw gave strong indication why this year’s team is considered one of the school’s best in years. After finishing out of the City playoffs last season with a 5-4 record, the Cougars have been impressive in opening this season with a 2-1 mark.

The standout player for the Cougars this season has been running back Kevin Hicks. After backing up Shon Ellerbe last season, Hicks has emerged as one of the top backs in Southern California. In three games, Hicks has gained 684 yards and is averaging more than 10 yards a carry. Against Kennedy, Hicks rushed for a school-record 267 yards in 25 carries, scoring two touchdowns.

“I think by the end of this season, Kevin will be the leading rusher in the city, in fact the state,” Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett said. “He will only get better because I think he just coming out of his shell now.”

Last season, the 5-foot 11-inch, 185-pound senior played sparingly because Garrett thought that Hicks was not tough enough to run inside. Now, Garrett has changed his opinion.

“I was reluctant to run him inside because I thought he would get hurt,” Garrett said. “This season, he has just been amazing. He now runs inside and outside.”

Another improved player is senior quarterback Derrick Williams, who also starts at defensive back. Williams, who has a 3.8 grade-point average, has given the Cougars a passing game to go along with Hicks’ rushing.

“Derrick is more of a leader now, compared to last year,” Garrett said. “He is taking charge in practice and in the games. He’s playing with more confidence and is minimizing his mistakes each week.”

A key two-way starter for the Cougars is Charles Jenkins, who plays fullback and linebacker. Last season, Jenkins started every game at center and continues to wear No. 54, despite his position change.

Against Kennedy, it was Jenkins’ 54-yard touchdown run after recovering a fumble by Hicks that gave the Cougars a 36-30 lead late in the fourth quarter and it was his block of Kennedy’s extra-point kick with 17 seconds remaining that at the time appeared to give Crenshaw a 36-36 tie.

After losing to Kennedy, 22-6, in the season opener last year, Garrett is optimistic about the Cougars’ chances of making the playoffs this season. While playing in the the Pacific League with Carson, Wilmington Banning and Dorsey, Garrett says Crenshaw’s goal is to not look past its early conference games.

“This game with Kennedy is definitely a character builder,” Garrett said.

An issue left open after the Crenshaw-Kennedy game was the controversial finish resulting from the officials’ ruling that Kennedy recovered its onside kick with five seconds left in the game. On the play, the dribbled kick went directly to Crenshaw’s Tristian Singleton near the Crenshaw sideline. He fell on the ball, then lost it in a frenzied pileup to a Kennedy player.

The debate centers on whether Singleton, who had one knee on the ground, had possession of the ball before hitting the grass. If he did, the ball should have had been ruled dead and possession given to Crenshaw.

“Singleton had initial possession of the ball and then he trapped it like a baseball center fielder would,” Garrett said. “To me, he had possession and the official who made the call had his back to the kid.”

However, the official, Major Patterson, saw the play differently and when Garrett and others on the Cougars’ sideline argued, Crenshaw was penalized 30 yards on two unsportsmanlike-conduct calls, setting up Rosen’s winning field goal.

“We feel that we were robbed and that it is a shame that an official can take a game away from the kids who tried so hard the entire game,” Garrett said. “It is tough for an inner-city school to get a fair shake due to its bad reputation, whenever it plays a school in the South Bay or (San Fernando) Valley area.”

Garrett’s complaint is one often heard from inner-city schools. Last year, Dorsey cried foul in losses to Banning and Carson.

Lee Joseph, City Interscholastic Athletics Specialist, is aware of these complaints.

“I understand that sometimes there are some poor calls, but 95% are the correct calls,” he said.

Joseph is an observer official for Pacific 10 football games and has 31 years of officiating experience.

“I do not think that any call is premeditated,” he said. “The problem is that the inner-city schools have developed a negative attitude about the officiating and when you lose a close one it is natural to get angry at the officials.”

Prep Notes

Ivan Wilson of South Gate rushed for 165 yards in 23 carries and scored four touchdowns in the Rams’ 34-0 win over Los Angeles Jordan. Victor Cerda scored the Rams’ only other touchdown with an eight-yard interception return. South Gate’s defense did not allow a first down or completed pass and held Jordan to minus-37 yards rushing. . . . Mario Mattison of Fairfax rushed for more than 175 yards in the Lions’ 20-6 win over Hollywood.

Santiago Alvarez of Franklin completed 22 of 30 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns in the Panthers’ 34-6 win over Gardena. . . . Rudy Ramirez of Bell Gardens rushed for 196 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Lancers’ 28-20 win over Montebello. . . . Jerome Casey of Sylmar accounted for 282 yards in total offense and scored five touchdowns in the Spartans’ 38-8 win over Lincoln. . . . Ontiwaun Carter of Granada Hills Kennedy gained 267 yards in 40 carries in the Golden Cougars’ 39-36 win over Crenshaw.

In Paramount’s 22-14 win over Gahr, Paramount quarterback Jack Manu passed for 127 yards, while completing 8 of 10 passes and rushed for 83 more in 13 carries. . . . Los Altos held Diamond Bar to only four yards rushing in its 14-3 win, with nose tackle Bobby Fany leading the way with 17 tackles. . . . Greg Hooks scored four touchdowns on a punt return, a pass reception and two interception returns, in Culver City’s 44-0 win over Compton Centennial.

TIMES’ TOP TEAMS

Southern Section

No. School, League Record 1. Fontana, Citrus Belt 4-0-0 2. Loyola, Del Rey 4-0-0 3. Paramount, San Gabriel Valley 4-0-0 4. Los Altos, Sierra 4-0-0 5. Leuzinger, Bay 4-0-0 6. Santa Monica, Bay 3-0-0 7. Long Beach Poly, Moore 2-1-0 8. Muir, Pacific 3-0-1 9. Rubidoux, Citrus Belt 3-0-1 10. Mission Viejo, South Coast 4-0-0 11. Lompoc, Northern 4-0-0 12. Serra, Camino Real 4-0-0 13. Hawthorne, Bay 4-0-0 14. Thousand Oaks, Marmonte 3-0-1 15. El Toro, South Coast 4-0-0

City

No. School, League Record 1. Carson, Pacific 1-1-0 2. Banning, Pacific 2-0-1 3. Granada Hills, North Valley 3-0-0 4. South Gate, Central 3-0-0 5. Dorsey, Pacific 1-2-0 6. Franklin, Northeast 2-1-0 7. Westchester, Metro 2-1-0 8. Sylmar, Valley East 2-0-0 9. Crenshaw, Pacific 2-1-0 10. Los Angeles, Metro 2-0-0