Crenshaw Cougars lose to De La Salle Spartans in championship game
Shotgun Spratling | 12-20-2009 | Comments |
Momentum is a fickle thing, especially in the game of football. Things can change in the blink of an eye and that’s exactly what happened Saturday night in the CIF State Open Division Championship between Crenshaw (14-1) and De La Salle (13-2) won by the De La Salle Spartans 28-14.
The Crenshaw Cougars stormed out to an early 14-0 lead to control all the momentum thanks to the talents of uber-athlete DeAnthony Thomas, but holding a 14-7 lead, the momentum swung drastically all in one play.De La Salle senior Tyler Anderson took a handoff from the 41-yard line and busted up the gut and into the secondary. After Anderson veered toward the right sideline, Crenshaw’s Thomas, playing safety, caught him from behind inside the 5-yard line.
When Anderson attempted to stretch out for the pylon, Thomas appeared to hit the ball forcing a fumble that went through the end zone and out of bounds, which would have resulted in a touchback giving the Crenshaw Cougars the ball on the 20-yard line.
But instead of the Cougars getting the ball back, they lost out on the call when the referees claimed Anderson was already down, and even more importantly, lost their star junior when his left ankle during the tackle.
“It changed the whole complexion of the game,” Crenshaw coach Robert Garrett said.
One play later, Terron Ward scored for De La Salle, and all the momentum that could have been with Crenshaw had the referees’ ruling been different and all the Cougars’ previous momentum was erased.
De La Salle carried their newfound momentum through into the second half where they were able to grind down Crenshaw up front with their veer-option attack led by Anderson and Ward. Finishing with 161 yards on 22 carries, Ward broke the De La Salle single-season rushing record -- an impressive feat considering the storied tradition at the school that set a national record by winning 151 consecutive games between 1992 and 2003.
More important than records, Ward also put the team on his back in the second half and dominated the worn down Crenshaw defense.
“I just wanted to run hard,” said a jubilant Ward after the game. “If I got the record so be it, but I just wanted to win state.”
On their opening second half possession, the senior running back gashed the Crenshaw defense with a 26-yard touchdown run, his second score of the game, giving De La Salle their first lead of the game at 21-14. He also scored a third touchdown with 3:09 left in the fourth quarter that effectively put the game out of reach after Anderson had converted a crucial third-and-13 to keep the drive alive earlier in the possession.
Though Crenshaw quarterback Marquis Thompson found some success throwing the ball in the second half -- twice moving the ball down inside De La Salle’s 25-yard line -- the Spartans’ defense always stiffened. Therefore, orchestrating a quick strike with less than three minutes remaining proved to be an unattainable task. Thompson was picked off by Spartan’s junior linebacker Blake Renaud on a third-and-long allowing De La Salle to run out the clock and be crowned Open Division champions.
It was all Crenshaw the first nine minutes of the game. They forced two quick punts from De La Salle and scored without hesitation. After forcing a Spartans’ three-and-out on the first possession of the game, Crenshaw got on the board on their second offensive play.
Thomas, nicknamed “Black Mamba” for his dangerous quick strike ability, took a handoff from Thompson and burst up the middle going 43 yards with only one Spartans’ defender getting his fingertips on him before he broke into open space beyond the secondary.
After coming up with another big third down stop, the Cougars went on a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped off by another scamper by Thomas. On a fourth-and-five from the 11-yard line, coach Robert Garrett declined the field goal attempt and gave the ball to his athletic back tossing the ball right to Thomas. Thomas took it wide and then cut upfield before leaping to avoid a defender and get into the end zone.
It looked like it was going to be another three-and-out for the Spartans on third possession. But veteran coach Bob Ladouceur, in his 30th season with De La Salle and coaching in his fourth consecutive CIF bowl game, opened up the passing game and finally got things going in his team’s favor.
Sophomore quarterback Bart Houston connected with 6’4” wideout Lucas Shapiro for a 26-yard gain that moved their team into Crenshaw territory for the first time. Two plays later Houston found fellow sophomore Anthony Williams on a slant route that went for 29 yards and got the Spartans inside the red zone.
After Ward got the ball down to the 5-yard line, Anderson finished off the drive with a touchdown run as he followed a tremendous block by senior lineman Dino Waldren.
However, it wasn’t until Anderson’s run down to the 1-yard line and Ward’s subsequent touchdown plunge that De La Salle was able to take the momentum and eventually the game.
Even with the loss, coach Robert Garrett’s group still had a tremendous season finishing 14-1. They also became the first City Section team to be selected for a championship bowl game since the CIF went to the bowl game format four seasons ago.
“Although we lost on the scoreboard, we’re winners in our heart,” said Garrett. “The kids know that, and we’ll keep that going.”
Tags: cif state open division championship crenshaw cougars de la salle spartans football shotgun spratling
