San Pedro High Football Posts CIF-LACS Opening Round KO

It was only the first round, but San Pedro High football wanted to prove a point that they're still a dangerous team.

By virtue of their 49-0 CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division 1 first round domination of visiting Birmingham of Lake Balboa, the Pirates drove that point home and then some.

The performance wasn't perfect, but third-seeded San Pedro (9-2) would turn the contest into a no-contest with an explosive 21-point third quarter before rolling to victory over the No.14 Patriots (5-6), while the defense was staunch in posting their third shutout of the season, also the first playoff shutout victory since 1993, when San Pedro won 17-0 over Reseda in the 1993 CIF-LACS Division 3A playoffs. The Pirates repeated as champions a week later.

San Pedro would set the tone early in the first quarter... a game-opening three & out forced by the defense, and then the offense would get their kicks in early by the combination of senior quarterback Austin Jackson and junior running back Kai Kaneshiro.

That duo combined for 53 yards, sparked by Jackson's 16-yard pass to Kaneshiro to set up junior running back Sean Davenport's three-yard touchdown run. Senior cornerback Mikey Hernandez would then intercept a pass from Birmingham sophomore quarterback Jason Artiga, but the defense of the Patriots forced a punt, then junior quarterback Troy Smith then gets picked off by sophomore linebacker Junior Gafa, who would return it 34-yard touchdown and a 14-0 San Pedro lead late in the first quarter.

Davenport's two-yard touchdown run, his second score of the night coming with 23 seconds left in the second quarter, would extend San Pedro's lead to 21-0 right before halftime. During that quarter, Gafa would intercept Artiga near the goal line to thwart Birmingham's best chance to score midway through the second period.

From there, San Pedro came out of their halftime speech with a crystal clear mindset, and would score three more touchdowns in their four third quarter possessions, on short touchdown runs of two yards by Jackson, another two-yard touchdown run from Kaneshiro, and a 16-yard touchdown run from junior running back DeVean Randall for a commanding 42-0 edge.

In the fourth quarter which was played with a running clock... a historic moment was made.

Freshman running back Giovanni Rizzo, who was called up from junior varsity before last week's 26-10 Marine League win over Carson, would find a hole in the middle and burst right through it for a 30-yard touchdown to put an exciting close to the night for San Pedro. Rizzo is the first freshman to score a varsity touchdown in San Pedro High football history.

It was a solid defense all night for the Pirates, who intercepted four passes on the day, also getting a pick from senior defensive back Brandon Johnson in the third quarter. Senior defensive lineman Nick Ford, junior defensive back Anthony Mendez and backup junior defensive end Nick Sezate each garnered a sack. In all, Birmingham was held to 98 yards of total offense.

Davenport ran for 49 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns for San Pedro. Jackson threw for 79 yards and an interception, while also rushing for 25 yards and a touchdown, and Kaneshiro ran for 44 yards on six carries and another score. 

San Pedro should be in for a much stiffer battle next Friday in the quarterfinals, as they will host sixth-seeded Palisades Charter at 7 pm. The Dolphins (9-2), tri-champions of the Western League, won 41-0 over No.11 Carson.

Views: 352

Comment

You need to be a member of San Pedro News Pilot to add comments!

Join San Pedro News Pilot

San Pedro News Pilot by email - sign up!

Delivered by FeedBurner

What is the SanPedroNewsPilot.com?

The SanPedroNewsPilot.com is the social network and information outlet for San Pedro.

Want to keep up with the news in San Pedro, become a member.


 

Membership has its privileges!

• Got news you think everyone should know? Blog it.
• Have a show or attending a benefit? Put it on the calendar.
• Got video of the big game? Embed it.
• Photos of the new storefront or the school play? Upload them.

Latest Activity

Mistah Wilson updated their profile
Feb 4
Vincie Sutrin promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year
Dec 31, 2023
Vincie Sutrin promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year
Dec 31, 2023

Sports Editor
Jamaal Kellen Street promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year
Dec 31, 2023

Sports Editor
Jamaal Kellen Street posted a blog post

San Pedro High Flag Football 2023 Shines In Inaugural Year

When a new high school sports program begins, normally it takes time to build a winner from the ground up.For San Pedro High flag football however, they didn't waste time in its inaugural season.Not wanting to settle for just being one of the 54 CIF-Los Angeles City Section schools to take in this brand-new environment, San Pedro immediately looked to hire a man well…See More
Dec 31, 2023
Mistah Wilson posted a blog post

The Jewish Community Weaponized Hip Hop Against Black People

Is it not yet painfully obvious that the so-called European Jewish community has profited off of the destruction of African American families all across the world?Are we really going to take the stance that conscious Hip Hop wouldn't have sold records? Whole fan bases have been ousted over the special interests of the Jewish community. Lyor Cohen, a so-called Jewish…See More
Nov 23, 2023

Sports Editor
Jamaal Kellen Street promoted Jamaal Kellen Street's blog post 2022-2023 San Pedro Prep Sports Team Of The Year
Oct 3, 2023
Mistah Wilson posted a blog post

Soul The Interrogator talks Hip Hop Histories & His New Album "Ol' Head" (Exclusive Interview)

Seattle rapper Soul The Interrogator talks General Background, TakeOver Music Collective, & His Latest Album Ol' Head in an exclusive interview w/ Mistah Wilson for tha Seattle Music Scene...See More
Sep 11, 2023

© 2024   Created by San Pedro News Pilot.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service