Culver Bolts Over El Segundo

When lightning strikes, even the football gods listen.

Culver City High’s 2018-19 Homecoming Game and Senior Night was ushered away early by lightning storms in the area on Friday, Oct. 12.

The Centaurs still registered a shutout over the visiting El Segundo Eagles even though the game was suspended four minutes into the second quarter.

“I’ve been coaching 19 years and I’ve never seen that before. The lightning actually hit the speaker posts and ruined the system. The game was postponed as we wanted to error on the side of caution,” said Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright.

“It was mutually agreed upon by the coaches, the schools’ athletic directors with the referees to call the game. It was called a full game even though it lasted only a little more over a quarter with Culver City High winning by the final score of 28-0.”

The rain started falling hard just as the Centaurs were beginning their first drive of the game.

Chris Miller caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zevi Eckhaus four minutes into the game. Kicker Matthew Lopez converted the first of four successful extra-point attempts for a 7-0 Culver lead.

Three minutes later following an Eagle punt, running back Joshua Ford streaked for a 42-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead. El Segundo then gave Culver City excellent field position past midfield. Ford dazzled the field with a 43-yard dash ending at the two-yard line. He completed the scoring drive with a two-yard move for the 21-0 Culver lead.

Wright: “The defense was playing well, forcing three-and-outs and giving the ball back to the offense. We made a concerted effort to try and run the ball. Joshua Ford did a great job. He had 116 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns early on in the second quarter so it was a career night.”

The rain had stopped leading into the second quarter but the lightning in the background would soon arrive. The Eagles had possession inside the Centaurs 20-yard line a minute into the quarter. Their scoring chances died as Culver’s defense forced El Segundo to turn over the ball on downs at the 25-yard line.

On first down Eckhaus threw a pass to wide receiver Kevin McGuire who melted the Eagle’s entire secondary on a 75-yard touchdown route with 10 minutes on the clock. Two minutes later the officials stopped the game as the lightning made its sudden impact directly overhead.

Fans were ushered out of Jerry Chabola Stadium. An hour later the game was declared over.

The Centaurs only had a total of 15 offensive plays: nine runs and six passes, yet they reeled off 258 total yards: 131 yards rushing, 127 yards passing. Eckhaus completed 4/6 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Ford rushed for 116 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. Jamal Glaspie carried once for four yards. McGuire caught three passes for 92 yards and one touchdown. Miller caught the one 35-yard pass for touchdown.

Defensively, Dominic Tatum, Jordan Taylor and Antonio lead the team in tackles with five each including three solo tackles. Keaton Asma and Cortez Wright had four tackles each with Wright getting four solos. Arami Bryant had three tackles including two assisted.

Tyler Luckett, Joe Simpson and Eric Barbee had two tackles each. McGuire, Allen Smith, Andrew Brown, Isaiah Williams, Tah’je Ward, Adrian Simon, Richard Farias and Amir Hodge had one tackle each. Simpson, Ward and Hodge also had one tackle for loss each. Both Simpson and Hodge had a quarterback sack.

“The team was excited to be playing their Homecoming Game on Senior Night. They responded and came out fast. It’s a shame they got cheated out of playing the whole game through because it was something they wanted to remember,” finished Wright.

2018-19 Culver City High Football Seniors (Uniform number/Position): Joshua Ford (1/RB), Kevin Mcguire (2/WR), Jamal Glaspie (3/WR), Tyler Luckett (6/WR-CB), Allen Smith (7/DB-WR), Dominic Tatum (8/DB/WR), Cortez Wright (12/MLB- FB), Kannon Davis (17/WR), Andrew Brown (20CB-FS), Joe Simpson (21/SS), Justin Jarmon (23/SS).

Malachi McMahon (24/RB-OLB), Keshawn Mcpherson (25/OLB), Barry Blocker (28/CB), Tah’je Ward (31/DT-DE), Ethan Day (33/OLB), Jason Hammock (34/DT-DE), Jordan Taylor (41/OLB), Rudy Chavez (42/OLB), Edwin Ramirez (44/DT).

David Aguirre (51/OT), Antonio Morillo (52/DT-DE), Zack Castanaza (53/NG-DT), Jose Lopez (54/G-C), Leonardo Emilio (56/G), Eric Barbee (57/NG-DT), Amir Hodge (59/T-DE), Gabriel Robles (69/C), Kofi Karikari (77/T) and Jackson Goss (80/WR).

“The seniors and the team were in good spirits. I think everybody realizes that we have a bigger goal that we’re trying to accomplish. And that’s to win the CIF Championship. So we’re just moving on to the next opponent, which is Hawthorne.”

“They’re a very balanced team and have some good athletes. The coach does a good job with their offensive scheme so we want to be disciplined, take away their favorite plays and play a sound, clean game.”

The Centaurs travel to Hawthorne High Friday, Oct. 19, for sole possession of second place in the Ocean League.

Lawndale High currently tops the league with a 3-0 record. Culver City and Hawthorne are tied for second at 2-1, El Segundo and Santa Monica are tied for fourth at 1-2 while Beverly Hills remains in the cellar at 0-3 record.