CARSON - A San Pedro High football team that was eager to start Marine League play off with a bang, instead took a fast blow on the chin from host Carson.

The first quarter was a nightmare, as the Colts bolted to a 21-0 lead before the Pirates knew what hit them, and when they finally gathered themselves to make a potential push at a seemingly unlikely victory due to the circumstances, it was too little, too late.

With this 27-21 loss, the Pirates are now looking at the potential of losing the first two Marine League games on their schedule for the first time ever since the league was reborn in 1999. Their next opponent, two-time defending CIF-Los Angeles City Section and reigning league champion Narbonne of Harbor City, absolutely overwhelmed Banning of Wilmington, 53-2 in their opener.

Carson (2-4 overall, 1-0 league) would go up quickly in the first quarter on a pair of touchdown connections from quarterback Kiki Flores, who transferred from Mary Star two years ago, to wide receiver Kelvin Sadberry, one being a 28-yard deep pass in the corner, and another a 27-yard slant over the middle. San Pedro sophomore quarterback Jacob Miller completed an eight-yard pass to senior RB/LB Pete Palacios, who inexplicably fumbled.

Defensive back T.J. Flowers would recover the ball on the bounce and return it 35 yards for the score that gave the Colts an insurmountable 21-0 lead with under two minutes left in the first quarter. Suddenly, the Pirates (4-2, 0-1) were knocked down with a thud from the right cross thrown at them by Carson.

The tables would turn almost with a flip of the switch in the second quarter, as this time the Colts were making some terrible mistakes.

The first one being Flores throwing a pass into heavy coverage... as Palacios, who dropped back into coverage from his linebacker spot, picked off with ease and returned it 55 yards for a San Pedro touchdown with 11:16 to go in the half. Carson's DeJuan Lee would return the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a clipping penalty early in the return.

San Pedro senior defensive back Cean Tukes Jr. would intercept Flores, but the Pirates were turned over on downs. Junior defensive back Chris Lauro would force a fumble by Sadberry after a short pass completion, and Palacios recovered. 

Seemingly the Colts thwarted San Pedro yet again when Miller was intercepted by senior linebacker Manoah Pearson, who returned it 63 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a roughing the passer penalty negated that score.

San Pedro would close out that 12-play, 57-yard drive on a three-yard touchdown run from senior running back Victor Viscarra in the closing moments of the first half and suddenly, the Pirates were still in the game, down 21-14 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, giving San Pedro a great chance to tie, but Miller's quarterback sneak attempt on fourth-and-1 was stoned by the on-charging Carson defense with 6:42 to play in the game. Carson running back Jabari Minix would burst through the defense for a 59-yard touchdown run two plays later, and the Colts went up 27-14 with 4:25 remaining.

Miller finally connected on some passes late, a 20-yard slant to senior wide receiver Albert Martinez and a 28-yard bomb to Palacios, setting up junior running back Chris Alvidrez's one-yard touchdown with four seconds left.

Carson recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Despite the rough beginning, San Pedro made a great account for themselves by limiting Carson to 177 yards of total offense, while only managing 133 yards of offense for themselves.