O'Connor Passes Over Peninsula

Giving up a kick return for a touchdown is not the way any team wants to start a game. On Friday afternoon, however, all it really did was serve to jump-start the Culver City High offense, which proceeded to score six unanswered touchdowns in a 42-7 nonleague victory over Peninsula in Palos Verdes.

After a lackluster first game in which Culver City allowed big plays and committed several costly turnovers early in the first half of its 51-28 victory over West Torrance, the Centaurs' high-powered offense was clicking on all cylinders Friday and senior quarterback Lukas O'Connor enjoyed a career day. 

O'Connor completed 21 of 29 passes for 417 yards, no interceptions and five touchdowns, including scoring strikes of nine, 62 and 38 yards to wide receiver Alex Jackson, who finished with seven receptions for 142 yards. Julius Wilson caught touchdown passes of 58 and 63 yards and finished with six grabs for 167 yards.

"I was much more calm in the pocket, I just went through my reads, threw the ball, gave it to my athletes and let them make the plays," said O'Connor, who rebounded from a subpar performance in Culver City's opener in which he threw three interceptions. "The last throw I made to Alex... 80 yards down the field. I just let our athletes make the plays."

Culver City quarterbacks coach Reggie Haynes was pleased with O'Connor's decision-making and timing: "Lukas had a standout game today. Anytime you can come out and score back-to-back on your first possessions that's always good."

Kevin Porche, who was chosen to carry the team flag onto the field before the second half, made three catches for 53 yards and Ronald Jones and Jimmy Haywood each had two receptions for the Centaurs, who entered the game seventh in the CIF Southern Section's Western Division poll.

"I thought I had a great game," Centaurs lineman Mitchell Westover said. "Everybody on the team put forth 100 percent effort, we came out with a bang and we left with a bang."

Culver City dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Akili Skannal carried 10 times for 63 yards and one touchdown and the Centaurs' defense held Peninsula just under 100 yards on the ground. The Panthers had gained 330 yards rushing in their 21-12 season-opening victory over North Torrance the week before.

"We did what we were supposed to do... we saw them on film, they're exactly who we thought they were and the kids played well," Culver City linebackers coach Tom Crump said. "There are a couple things we need to tighten up on. In kickoff coverage we weren't as sharp as we wanted to be, we were outside of our lanes, but other than that I'm happy across the board."

Senior linebacker Khalil Pettway had a team-high nine tackles, senior defensive back Robert Moore had eight and senior defensive back Miles Washington and junior linebacker Keishawn Haley each added six. Pettway and Jonathan Jackson each sacked Panthers quarterback Matt Imwale, who completed five of 15 passes for 49 yards.

"What I took away from this game is that I was very proud of the way we played in the first half except for our kickoff team," Centaurs head coach Jahmal Wright said. "In the second half we had some breakdowns offensively and defensively that we have to be sharper on, but we didn't let them in the end zone on defense, which was excellent. We have a ways to go, but so far, so good."

Ryan Sawelson raced 90 yards on the opening kickoff to give host Peninsula (1-1) a short-lived lead. Culver City answered its Bay League opponent with a six-play, 80-yard march, capped by O'Connor's 58-yard pass to Wilson that tied the score.

"Lukas has his confidence up and did a much better job this week than last week," Culver City's offensive coordinator Aki Wilson said. "We moved the ball better and we're making steps in the right direction. The offensive line did a great job. I have to watch the film, but I was happy with them."

Late in the first quarter, Jackson's nine-yard scoring catch put Culver City (2-0) in front for good and the Centaurs increased their lead to 28-7 by halftime on Wilson's second touchdown catch and Skannal's one-yard run. Ret Tilman showed why he is considered one of the top kickers in the Southern Section, punting twice for an average of 43 yards and sending five of his seven kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

Culver City's offense slowed somewhat after scoring four touchdowns in its first five possessions, but Wright noted that even the most prolific offenses struggle at times.

"It's hard to score every single possession that you have the ball, although that's what we strive for... perfection," Wright said. "With high school kids there's going to be bumps in the road, but I thought we showed we were the best team on the field and were explosive every time we touched the ball. I'm very proud of our lines. We ran the ball well. I thought this would be the best defensive line we've had in some years and they're showing it."

Jin Matsumoto lost a fumble and kicker Charles Chae missed a field goal for Peninsula, which travels to Beverly Hills to take on another Ocean League adversary Friday. Culver City returns home to face Redondo Union Friday in a rematch of last year's thriller, which the Centaurs won 21-17 on Porche's six-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left.

Jackson closed out the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter--the finishing touch to a day of domination by the Centaurs offense.

"A few times they had a pretty good rush on me, but that happens in games all the time and I'm use to that, so that's all right," O'Connor said. "As far the blitzes, Peninsula doesn't disguise anything. In the beginning I was a little surprised they ran a certain defense because we didn't watch any film on that, but we scored 28 points in the first half so we still made a difference in the game. I thought we played really well."

Score by Quarters

1

2

3

4

Final

Culver City

7

7

42

Peninsula

7

0

0

7

Scoring Summary

Peninsula -- Sawelson 90 kickoff return (Chae kick) 

Culver City -- Wilson 58 pass from O'Connor (Tilman kick)

Culver City -- Jackson 9 pass from O'Connor (Tilman kick)

Culver City -- Wilson 63 pass from O'Connor (Tilman kick)

Culver City -- Skannal 1 run (Tilman kick)

Culver City -- Jackson 62 pass from O'Connor (Tilman kick)

Culver City -- Jackson 38 pass from O'Connor (Tilman kick)

Records: Culver City 2-0; Peninsula 1-1.