WILMINGTON — The Banning football team had the perfect start to Friday’s L.A. City Section Open Division semifinal against Birmingham.
Starting from their own 33, the Pilots moved quickly down the field, with big plays coming on a 24-yard pass from Robert Guerrero to Andres Saucedo and two plays later Guerrero hit Caleb Nuhi-Yandall for a 33-yard pass to the Birmingham 2.
Caleb Nuhi-Yandall put the finishing touches on the drive with a 2-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
That would be the Pilots’ only lead of the game.
The Patriots, who have won the last two City Section Open Division titles, look as if they’re the favorites for a third as they reeled off 42 consecutive points for a 42-7 win.
“They’re probably a little bit more stronger, they’re probably a little bit more faster and that’s the reality of the game,” Banning coach Raymond Grajeda said of Birmingham. “They did a good job up front and we really didn’t have an answer for it.”
Birmingham (8-4) will face either Garfield (10-2) in Saturday’s finals at Valley College.
Birmingham tied the game on its first possession as Kingston Tisdell connected with Peyton Waters for a 31-yard touchdown. The Patriots took the lead for good as Waters returned a blocked punt for a 14-7 lead.
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From there, the Patriots turned things over to their offensive line and the rushing attack led by Ronnell Hewitt and and Naiim Morgan. Hewitt and Morgan had two rushing touchdowns apiece.
“After that (first drive), our defense really stepped up,” Birmingham coach Jim Rose said. “Tonight, I think, the offensive line was dominant. They probably played the best game they’ve played all year and I thought the running backs, for the most part, ran pretty well … that was the bottom line.
“Blocking that punt was a big momentum changer, but I thought we played a solid game.”
Trailing 14-7, the Pilots (6-6) kept the offense on the field for a fourth-and-6 late in the first quarter. However, a false start penalty, moved the ball back and to start the second quarter, the Pilots left the offense on the field. Birmingham’s Maynor Morales came up with a sack, giving the ball back the Patriots.
Birmingham then took firm control heading into halftime as Morgan (8 yards) and Hewitt (21 yards) scored touchdowns for a 28-7 lead.
The teams met at the same stage of the playoffs last season and the Patriots handed the Pilots a 37-0 defeat. Birmingham would go on to defeat San Pedro in the championship game.
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The Pilots were able to come back from that loss and finished second in the Marine League and make a second consecutive trip to the Open Division semifinals. The quest to get over the hump and back into the finals, begins again.
“You have to look at yourself in the mirror and you have to really question yourself and ask what did we do wrong,” Grajeda said. “We’re going to take our cuts, put band-aids on them and we’re going to go to work. We pride ourselves in our off-seasons.
“Our base is one game away and we’re going to continue that same mission for next year.”