Lawndale football battles, but falls short against Alemany
HAWTHORNE >> It was a play that belied Lawndale’s potential.
Freshman quarterback Valentino May hit sophomore Sean “Deuce” Weston in stride for a smooth 25-yard pass on 4th-and-18 to keep Lawndale’s final drive alive.
Ultimately, Lawndale stalled out four plays later and suffered an 18-14 loss to Alemany Friday night at Hawthorne High in its final nonleague matchup.
But the potential is there.
“I really wanted this game,” Lawndale coach Travis Clark said with emphasis.
It would have been a boon for a young Lawndale squad that is aiming for its third consecutive Pioneer League title and its seventh league title in the past eight seasons.
Lawndale finished a 1-4 nonleague campaign against top-tier competition and Clark said Lawndale should expect a highly competitive Pioneer League campaign that begins Friday at Torrance.
“This is not a gimme season,” Clark said. “Everyone is going to be gunning for us, from Torrance to El Segundo. They are all going to play us hard, and I love it.”
Alemany (2-2) overcame its own adversity this week after losing quarterback CJ Ceron to a broken foot.
For the first time in coach Casey Clausen’s playing or coaching career, his team did not throw a pass.
Clausen instituted a wildcat offense featuring Paden White (163 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries) and Jeremiah Claiborne (148 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries).
White’s 3-yard touchdown run with 4:59 left in the game gave Alemany the lead for good.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Clausen said. “We only put in this offense on Tuesday. I’m bummed for CJ and we’ll grow into it. We’re super young.
“When we are not having holding calls or snapping the ball over the quarterback’s head, we looked pretty good. We need to minimize mistakes and we are going to pound and ground.”
Weston was anything but pound and ground.
His blazing 80-yard scoring run gave Lawndale a 7-6 lead with 6:39 left in the second quarter, bursting to the outside and zooming down the line.
“In my head, I was telling myself to be special,” Weston said. “As soon as I hit the corner, I knew it was over. My lineman Jeremiah Sanchez really set that up well and fought for me.I knew I had to step up for my team.”
Weston finished with 10 carries for 139 yards, continuing a sizzling sophomore season. In addition to his 80-yard scoring run, Weston added a 43-yard kickoff return, a 41-yard run and that 25-yard catch on fourth down in the fourth quarter that gave Lawndale a chance.
“Playing these type of games against teams like Inglewood, Alemany and Cathedral will definitely help us prepare for league,” Weston said. “I know my team has potential. We just have to fight and play with our hearts.”
Ultimately Clark liked how his young team battled against a bigger Alemany squad that had the size and strength advantage up front.
May turned in a gutsy performance and even delivered a 21-yard touchdown strike to Jesse Anderson that gave Lawndale a 14-12 lead at the 10:37 mark in the third quarter.
“For me as a coach, I look at these youngsters and I’m proud of our young kids,” Clark said. “We had too many self-inflicted things, but this group is growing and I hope they continue to learn. We are looking forward to league. We are looking forward to the challenge.”