Articles written by Greg Goodyear


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  • Culver City football works in new players in passing leagues

    Greg Goodyear|Aug 12, 2021

    Culver City's varsity football team is using passing league tournaments this summer to integrate some new players in their system after losing several key players to graduation last June. Some of the players that they need to replace are All-State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, All-State wide receiver Amari Pait, All-League running back Ayinde Bankol, All-League linemen Dylan Nichols and Adrian Simon and All-League receiver Legend Waring. Those are just some of many talented seniors that graduated....

  • A Record Seven Centaurs get College Football Scholarship Offers

    Greg Goodyear|Dec 10, 2020

    This year Culver City is blessed to have at least seven Centaurs, who have been offered Division 1 scholarships. This is most likely the reason why the Centaurs are ranked 24th in the State and 16th in Southern California. The seniors in this group are 6'3" 200 wide receiver/defensive back Makai Cope, who is one of the most heavily recruited players in Culver City history with 17 offers. Emari Pait, safety/wide receiver, 6'2"205 with eight offers and who recently agreed to sign with Fresno...

  • Eckhaus and Miller Top All-Ocean League Football Selections

    Larry Weiner and Greg Goodyear|Apr 16, 2020

    Last year Culver City football hit another historic milestone when they went to their third CIF Semi-Final in a row. Obviously, after the success of the CIF Championship of 2018, many people hoped for back-to-back championships and a State title. Unfortunately the Centaurs had an aberration, committing five turnovers during their semi-final loss to St. Paul thwarting their chance for a second straight CIF Divisional title. After the end of the season, the coaches met to vote on the All-Ocean...

  • Four Centaurs Sign Football Scholarships

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner|Mar 26, 2020

    During the early signing period for NCAA football, Culver City High School had two outstanding athletes sign with Division 1 programs. Corner and slot receiver Khary Crump signed with the University of Arizona, and wide receiver and defensive back Chris Miller signed with Sacramento State. In the more recent late signing period, wide receiver Tanner Duve was offered a grant-in-aid to the University of Pennsylvania of the Ivy League, and offensive lineman Blake Kneebone was offered a scholarship...

  • Culver Football Kicks Off Friday Night

    Greg Goodyear, Special to the Observer|Aug 29, 2019

    The Culver City Centaurs travel to open the season at West Torrance this Friday night at 7 o'clock. Last year Culver opened up with a big win over West 62-20 at home. Last season West went 6-5 and was second place in the Pioneer league. The Warriors only lost one game to North in league and went to the CIF playoffs and lost 46-22 in the first round to Garden Grove. In the league, West rolled through the competition except for a close loss to North. West is looking to win their first league title...

  • Culver High Football Training Camp Opens

    Greg Goodyear, Special to the Observer|Aug 8, 2019

    Culver City High School football team opened fall camp this Wednesday. They are concentrating on conditioning and basics in their offense and defense. Head coach and Culver City Jahmal Wright want the team is still accepting student walk-ons. If anybody is interested, they should come by the school field house or contact the athletic office to get more information. The Centaurs will put on pads on Saturday. The Centaurs will have their traditional Blue/White game. The junior varsity will...

  • Former Culver City High star Lukas O'Connor making life work

    Greg Goodyear, Special to the Observer|Aug 1, 2019

    In 2011, former Culver City High quarterback Lukas O'Connor lead the Centaurs to the CIF championship game. It was the first time in over 30 years that the Centaurs played in the championship game. Culver City lost the game, but O' Connor carried on with his football career. But it's been a roller-coaster ride for the 6-foot-4 quarterback. After turning down several Division 1-AA schools, O'Connor packed his bags to attend a prep school on the East Coast. When that didn't work out, O'Connor...

  • Inaugural Culver City High Passing Tournament

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jul 25, 2019

    Culver City hosted its first sixteen team passing tournament this past weekend. It was challenging to get a good field of teams because there were other established tournaments already scheduled, including the Mission Viejo Tournament, which attracted some of the top programs in Southern California, And the Redondo Tournament, in its 7th year, was also scheduled. But because of the hard work of Tournament Director and Centaur coach Dovie Reed and Head Coach Jahmal Wright, they were able to...

  • Quarterback Eckhaus Receives All-State Honors

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jun 27, 2019

    Going into last year Culver City High realized that with the talent they possessed, all they needed was a good, solid performance from their new starting quarterback, Zevi Eckhaus, to have a big shot at winning the 2018 CIF crown. Eckhaus was replacing only the second three-year starting quarterback at Culver City High since 2002 in Jonathan Martin, the second all time passing yardage leader in school history (over 8,000 yards). The other three-year starter was arguably the best quarterback in C...

  • Culver High Wins El Rancho Passing Tourney

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Culver City Observer|Jun 20, 2019

    Culver Sets Record - Wins Passing Tourney Title Third Year in a Row This past Saturday, Culver City traveled to the San Gabrielle Valley to Pico Rivera to play in the El Rancho 7 on 7 passing tournament. Culver won this tournament in both 2017 and 2018, and they were hoping for the 3-peat. The games started at 8:00 a.m. under a forgiving June-gloom sky keeping the temperature down until 1:00 p.m. This was very favorable for the Centaurs due to a shortage of personnel, with their potential...

  • Centaurs in Three Passing Tournaments

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jun 6, 2019

    On Saturday May 18th, Culver City High football traveled to Glendale High School for the La Crescenta Valley passing tournament. Centaur head coach Jahmal Wright received a late call from the head coach at Crescenta Valley to invite the Centaurs into the tournament because they were looking for more teams. Since Culver City had played the Crescenta Valley freshman team the last few years, they have a good relationship with them. So Coach Wright decided to enter the tournament. The Centaurs had...

  • Ten Centaurs Make All-CIF Football

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Feb 21, 2019

    Centaurs Have Record 10 Football Players Make All-CIF After last year’s record run with the Centaurs winning a CIF Championship for the first time in 40 years, a record number of players were chosen for the All-CIF team. And for the first time in Culver City football history two players were selected as the offensive and defensive players of the year for the All-CIF team. The Offensive Player of the Year award in Division 7 was given to slot receiver, senior standout and team captain Kevin McGuire, for his tremendous contribution during the reg...

  • Culver Hosts #1 Seed Northview in Divisional Semis

    Greg Goodyear, Special to the Observer|Nov 15, 2018

    Culver City hosts the Northview Vikings, 12-0, and the number 1 seeded team in CIF Division 7. This will be a huge challenge for the Centaurs, the Vikings being a cross between the hard charging Palos Verdes Sea Kings and the tough Lawndale Cardinals, the only teams to have defeated the Cents this season. They have the discipline and size of Palos Verdes and the athleticism of Lawndale. The Vikings have been so dominating this season that until last Friday night’s game verses Warren, the closest anyone had come to them was 18 points. In last F...

  • Culver City, El Segundo Vie for Playoff Spot

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner|Oct 11, 2018

    The Culver City Centaurs are hosting the El Segundo Eagles, and it’s a very important night. Not only are the Cents most likely playing for second place in the Ocean League and a playoff berth, but tonight is also Homecoming and Senior Night. Since it is Homecoming, it is interesting to note that El Segundo head coach Steve Shevlin will feel right at home because he is a Culver High alum. Both teams will feel the pressure to do well in this game because the stakes are high as the results will go a long way in determining the playoff p...

  • Culver Expects another Barn-Burner Against Dorsey

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Sep 20, 2018

    After absorbing their first loss of the season 37-36 in their first away game at Palos Verdes, the Cents return home to face another strong and powerful winless team in the Dorsey Dons. The reason why the Dons are winless is because they have faced highly ranked schools in their first four games. Friday's game will be the third meeting between Dorsey and Culver High. In the first meeting in 2016, Culver City jumped out on top and held the lead for most of the game until Dorsey came back and notched the win. Last year, the then-undefeated Centau...

  • Culver City Clashes with Peninsula

    Greg Goodyear, Special to the Observer|Aug 30, 2018

    The Culver City High School Centaurs will host an improving football squad from Palos Verdes Peninsula on Friday, Aug. 31. The Peninsula Panthers opened the 2018 season in fine fashion when they derailed Oak Park, 42-21. Quarterback Ethan Gretzinger completed eight of 13 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball 12 times for 85 yards and a TD. Obviously, the Centaurs need to keep an eye on Gretzinger and also the Panthers’ strong running back, Mason O’Conner. Gretzinger is an athlete who can both run and throw well, whi...

  • Loaded Centaurs open '18 with always tough West!

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Aug 23, 2018

    After several years of total frustration with West Torrance High, the Culver City Centaurs finally broke through and walloped West 58-24. Senior quarterback Jonathan Martin last year broke through with a one-game passing record by throwing for 537 yards and five touchdowns versus West. The Centaurs were ranked No. 1 all year in Division 11 but lost a heartbreaking 57-56 overtime game to Covina in the semi-finals. Culver is starting this season with a relatively experienced sophomore quarterback, Zevi Eckhaus. But he started three games last...

  • Culver Defense Looks Strong for New Season

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Aug 23, 2018

    The Centaur defense performed well last season and even had three consecutive shutouts in league competition. But it got pushed around in the semi-final playoff game, when they were shredded for over 300 yards rushing by Covina, and lost 57-56 in overtime. Over the years, the Achilles heel of the defense has been stopping the run, but the coaching staff is very confident that the longstanding problem won't be an issue this year. “Our defense is filled with size, speed athleticism and experience," said Culver High Head Coach Jamal Wright. "This...

  • Centaurs Ready for Sparkling Season

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Aug 9, 2018

    Culver City High School's football coach, Jamal Wright, is understandably excited about the new season that begins later this month after his team sparkled in summer tournaments. "We’re excited about the ’18 team, and we’ve got a good mix of returners who have improved and newcomers who are hungry to improve themselves," Wright said. For the first time in recent history, the Centaurs won two passing tournaments this summer, went to the finals in the prestigious “Bonita Air Assault,” and performed very well in the last and most prestigio...

  • Centaurs Head for Big Season

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Aug 2, 2018

    The Culver City High School football team opened their fall camp this week and will train for three days running and conditioning before they "put on the pads" and combat their fellow Centaurs in practice soon. The Centaurs had an amazing summer. some who say that it was the best in two decades. Culver opened the summer "passing league" season with two big tournament championships, and then in the prestigious Bonita passing tournament, they finished second among 30 top-ranked teams. To prove...

  • Centaurs Look Foward to Home Opener

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jul 19, 2018

    Culver High's head football coach, Jamal Wright, decided to place his team into one last passing tournament this summer. And based on the way the team played, the regular season that begins at the end of next month looks like yet another promising one for the Centaurs. This tournament was probably the most prestigious and had the highest level of competition that the Centaurs played in this summer. It included a veritable "who's who" of powerhouse programs in Southern California. For starters,...

  • Culver City Shines in Final Passing League Tournament

    Larry Weiner and Greg Goodyear, Special to the Observer|Jul 12, 2018

    On Saturday, the Centaurs returned for the tournament portion of the Bonita “Air Assault” passing contest with the officials determining the top seeds and who the Centaurs would play in the first round. The No. 1 seed was the Valencia Vikings and the No. 2 seed was the Hart Indians. Both schools compete in the same league and are bitter rivals but are unquestionably two of the best teams in Southern California. Since there were 30 teams in the tournament, the first two seeds received a bye in the first round. Culver City was undefeated in poo...

  • Three Former Cents Sign Football Scholarships

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jun 28, 2018
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    Culver City has been very fortunate to have outstanding athletes who have been talented enough to go on to get college football scholarships. This past spring there were three Centaur football players who were able to sign National Letters of Intent to play college football. One was a running back at El Camino College. The other two were defensive standouts at their respective positions: One an extremely hard-hitting linebacker at West LA College and the other a cornerback who played in spring...

  • Culver City Wins Passing Tournament for Second Year

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jun 21, 2018

    By Greg Goodyear and Jerry Weiner Special to the Observer For the first time in recent memory, Culver City won the El Rancho passing tournament for the second year in a row and also won back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends. The Centaurs faced a slightly better level of competition this past weekend than they faced in the Western Tournament the weekend before. In addition, two of Culver’s better players were unable to attend last weekend’s tournament as Dominick Tatum was on an official trip to the University of Nevada and Khary Cru...

  • Culver Football Dominates Western HS

    Greg goodyear and Larry Weiner, Special to the Observer|Jun 14, 2018

    Special to the Observer By Greg Goodyear and Larry Weiner Over the years, Culver City has been a traditionally strong program in the summer passing tournaments, but they have generally not won many of these events. The Centaurs usually participate in four or five a summer and last summer had some success winning one and going to the finals in another. In the Centaur’s first passing tournament of this summer, they entered into a new tournament they had not participated in before played at Western High School in Anaheim. The biggest question t...

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