Culver City high school 2023 football season has been an up and down ride like a roller coaster. The first game of the season the Centaurs scored 72 points, but they gave up 63 against San Jacinto. In their second game Loyola held Culver City to six points and the Centaur defense gave up 24. Last week against Palmdale Culver City scored 59 points and held Palmdale scoreless.
Now here comes Warren high school from the City of Downey to battle the Centaurs on Friday night on the Culver City campus at 7 p.m. The 2-2 Bears are led by their 6'3 185-pound quarterback Madden Iamaleava. The Bears are the 60th ranked team in California and they are rated 38th in the CIF Southern Section. The Centaurs are the 146th ranked team in the state and 74th in the CIF Southern Section. Culver City will have to play their best game of the season if they expect to walk away with a victory.
Fortunately, football games are played on the field and not on paper. The 2-1 Centaurs have the talent, but they will have to score a lot of points and keep their defense off the field. Their quarterback, Sammy Silvia has a lot of weapons to help him score points. Receivers Mateo Torres, Myles Singleton, Braylon Singleton and Justin Oum are his main targets but there are many other capable receivers he can throw to.
The Centaurs running game led by tailback Pierce Reynoso and their offensive line will probably be the key to winning the game. If they can keep Iamaleava off the field most of the game the Centaurs have a chance to upset the Bears. When the Bears have the ball Culver City's defensive backfield must make plays. "Warren is a very good football team," said Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright after they defeated Palmdale last Friday. "It's going to be a challenge, but I think our guys are up for the challenge."
One Centaurs player that appears to be up for the challenge is two-way lineman Keenan Carter. Carter was an All-CIF player last year and this year he has proven to be one of the best linemen in the state. "I am feeling really good right now," said Carter after the Palmdale game. "I thank my coaches, my offensive and defensive coordinators. I want to make the All-CIF team again this year and I want to win a championship. I think our team can be really good this year."
Carter had this to say about Warren. "Last year they beat us pretty bad so as a unit and as a whole team and as a brotherhood we need to have good energy and momentum."
After shutting out Palmdale defensive coordinator Derrick Huezo is hoping his defense can rise to the occasion again against Warren. "It's not much to be said. The team will be up for the game, but we have to come out and play hard. The coaches are going to watch the film and come up with our best game plan and put our players in successful situations."
After losing to Loyola, it was refreshing for Culver City to be able beat Palmdale. "It feels good," said Wright. "It was good to be able to bounce back from a tough loss and play well. I like how we brought the fight to them. We executed on both sides of the ball. We took care of business. It's about us sharpening our tools so down the road we can face bigger challenges. What I really like is that all our players got game action. Everybody comes to practice and works hard so everyone deserves the opportunity to play."
On Friday at 7 p.m. another chapter will be written in the Culver City high football history books. Centaurs are just hoping the roller coaster stays up.
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