Inglewood Was Simply Too Good For Samohi

By Mitch Chortkoff

There's nothing wrong with being pretty good while someone else is better.

That's the case with the Santa Monica High football team, which ranks third in the Ocean League after losing to undefeated league leader Inglewood Friday night, 28-6. Samohi is likely to make the CIF playoffs because four teams from the league will get in.

In fact, a playoff berth could be secured this Friday if Samohi can win at Torrance. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Samohi has a 6-2 record, with the only other loss coming against second place North Torrance. Samohi has a victory over El Segundo, which tied North Torrance last Friday.

Inglewood is terrific. It has three speedy runners, all with 1,000 yards this season. It also has huge, talented linemen. It has an 8-0 record and is ranked third in its CIF division.

The fastest guy is Lamar Ferguson, who scored on touchdown runs of 83, 75 and 40 yards. He gained 249 yards on only eight carries.

``He's as fast as anyone I've coached against,'' said Tebb Kusserow, who was the Samohi head coach for 18 years and is now an assistant. ``Who's faster? Well maybe Curtis Conway when he was at Hawthorne High.''

Conway is a long-time NFL player who is now with the San Diego Chargers.

Against this powerhouse opponent Samohi went to Coleman Stadium in Inglewood for the Sentinels' homecoming game and competed pretty well. A few breaks here and there and it might have been real interesting.

But Samohi self-destructed, ruining any chance of winning.

``Five or six plays determined the outcome,'' said Samohi coach Norm Lacy. `We knew they were very good and we'd have to play almost a perfect game on offense to keep their offense off the field.

``We couldn't afford to miss our chances or have key penalties. But we did make some key mistakes.''

Samohi tried an onsides kick to begin the game but it was returned for a touchdown. Inglewood also made the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead after 14 seconds.

Inglewood scored again on Ferguson's 40-yard run and made the two-point conversion again for a 16-0 lead after five minutes.

The turning point came just before halftime. Samohi adjusted to the speed of its opponent and settled down. Quarterback James Cooper directed a long drive that reached the four-yard line. But Samohi was stopped on downs.

Then Ferguson broke loose for his 83-yard TD shortly before intermission. Instead of Samohi trailing at halftime, 16-7, it was behind 22-0.

Derrick Davis, who was held to 89 yards on 26 carries, scored in the third quarter, but Cooper was sacked on the two-point conversion try, leaving Samohi with a 22-6 deficit.

Samohi recovered a fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter and got close to another TD when tight end Josh Smith went 25 yards with a pass from Cooper. But when the Vikings got inside the 10 they were called for a key holding penalty.

They didn't score and Ferguson busted another big one to close the scoring.

After the game Smith had ice on a wounded knee.

Lacy said Samohi is focusing on conditioning as the season goes along and the playoffs draw near.