Carson Tops Banning for Another League Title

In the 51 years Carson and Banning have played each other in football, one thing has never changed--no win comes easy.

Thursday’s game continued that tradition, as the Colts had to grind out a 16-13 victory over their longtime rivals before an estimated 7,000 at El Camino College.

Although Carson never trailed, victory wasn’t assured until Howard Broomfield blocked a 42-yard field-goal attempt by Banning’s Francisco Amezcua with 21 seconds to play.

Carson wrapped up a third consecutive Marine League championship. Now the Colts (8-1, 4-1), whose only loss this season was to San Pedro, will wait to find out if they will be top-seeded in the City Section playoffs. The pairings will be announced Saturday.

Banning (3-6, 3-2), the defending City champion, could end up in a three-way tie for second depending on the outcome of tonight’s games between Harbor City Narbonne and San Pedro and Gardena and Washington.

Carson scored on the first play of the second quarter. The Colts faked a field-goal attempt, with the holder, quarterback Jason Tialavea, taking the snap, rolling out and finding tight end Johnny Rodriguez for a five-yard touchdown pass.

Tadeo Hernandez increased the lead to 10-0 with a 36-yard field goal with less than three minutes left in the half.

The Pilots broke through on a 10-yard scoring run by A.J. Tuitele with 7:02 to play in the third quarter.

Craigston Robbins caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from receiver Greg Chatman, who faked a reverse run, to give Carson a 16-6 lead at 1:40 of the third period.

Sophomore tailback Patrick Perry brought the Pilots close again with 29-yard touchdown run with 7:19 to play.