Dorsey Grinds Out Victory Over San Fernando

Behind the two-pronged running attack of Che Johnson and Chris Phillips, Dorsey overcame San Fernando, 20-16, in a City 4-A Division first-round playoff game Friday night.

On mostly trap plays and counter gap runs, Johnson and Phillips combined to gain 127 yards in 26 carries in the second half. Johnson gained 164 yards in 22 carries before leaving the game with a back injury late in the fourth quarter. Phillips added 87 yards in 18 carries, including a four-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

“The line did a great job for us,” Phillips said after his team improved to 8-3. “The only mistakes we made were by the backs, not the line. We just executed really well.”

In each of the last two odd-numbered years, 1989 and 1991, Dorsey has won the City title. But the Tigers (7-4) did make a run at breaking the trend.

Trailing, 20-10, midway through the fourth quarter, San Fernando rallied behind quarterback Leon Blunt, whose scrambling ability helped the Tigers drive 55 yards in under two minutes. Blunt dove into the end zone from one yard to cut the Dorsey lead to 20-16.

After a strong stand by their defensive unit, the Tigers got one more chance, but on fourth down at midfield, Blunt was stopped one yard short with about two minutes remaining.

The Dorsey defense keyed on stopping Blunt on the option. He gained 33 yards in 13 carries, but most of those yards came while evading the pass rush.

Running back Derrick Rowe gained 73 yards in 10 carries to lead the Tigers.

“They just did a great job of stopping Leon on the option,” San Fernando Coach Sean Blunt said. “They just keyed in on him.”

The Dons were slowed by 116 yards in penalties.

Blunt, who hadn’t completed a pass in two of his past three games, threw more than usual in the first half. But he completed only two of 13 passes for 43 yards.

One completion, however, was good for 38 yards to wide receiver Brian Jackson and set up a two-yard touchdown run by Rowe to put the Tigers ahead, 10-0.

With two minutes left in the first half, Johnson broke into the open field and ran untouched for 54 yards to give the Dons their first score.