October 2009 Archives

     Millikan's sizzling 35-34 overtime win over Poly a week ago left behind a somewhat predictable result: Extreme happiness for the Rams and then a letdown.

     Against a Lakewood team that plays within itself and has ample weapons, the Rams were unable to get untracked Friday night. Alden Darby is starting to show the wear and tear of doing everything for the Rams outside of lining the field before the game. He had a hard time finding lanes versus the Lancers and open targets downfield. Millikan had minus one yard net in the first half and 37 yards after three, and most of the yardage in the fourth quarter came on the ground, by Brian Malone, while Lakewood played prevent.

     Lakewood, meanwhile, showed why they're a contender for the Pac-5 title. Thadd McNeal's team has 23 played that gained eight or more yards, 15 of them for 11 yards or more. That doesn't include ample return yardage, either.

    Lakewood (5-0 in league) could clinch the Moore League title outright while relaxing next Friday. They have a bye, and a Wilson (3-1) is at Jordan, which beat Compton Friday with the return of Princeton Fuimaono to the Panthers lineup.

     It truly was one of the most entertaining games you'd ever want to see. Poly jumped out 14-0, Millikan scored 28 straight to lead 28-14, then Poly scored twice in the last half of the second half to draw even and send it into overtime.

     Tip of the cap to Millikan. Their game plan was sound and the Rams defense was absolutely determined to not let Poly do what Poly does best, overwhelm a team. It's especially so since Kirk Diego has a lot of two-way players, so these guys were gassed at game's end.

   And a tip of the chapeau to Raul Lara and the Jackrabbits coaching staff, for going for the win in the second OT rather than advance to a third. It really was to the benefit of all the players (and reporters with deadlines). The game last 3 hours, 35 minutes and I was worried about the health of the players. Kaelin Clay twisted an ankle, Cory Westbrook was running on pure adrenalin late, and Alden Darby was completely spent but found a way to throw the game-winning TD pass in OT.

Other notes:

---Millikan did not play Darby on defense much of the second half because they needed him so much on offense.

---Poly committed 20 penalties that cost them 190 yards. They committed just two on defense. Three were on special teams, all on returns that negated 92 yards. The offense committed 15---five holding penalties and four personal fouls (two of them excessive celebration, then last one leading to their blocked PAT for the win). An illegal shift on offense negated a 34-yard Westbrook run.

---Westbrook gained 190 yards on 33 rushes with three touchdowns, and also had three receptions for 23 yards. Clay had nine receptions for 178 yards. Chris Leachman was 13-of-24 for 221 yards but with four interceptions. Chaisye Hales was 2-of-4 for 30 yards and a pick.

---Poly netted 445 yards, Lakewood 205.

---Darby had 28 yards rushing on 21 carries. He had no net yards in the second half and Poly was catching him from behind on runs in the second half. He was 9-for-20 passing for 127 yards with one pick (a tip). He also had a kickoff return for 42 yards and an interception return for 45. He never flinched, however, and one has to believe his leadership---he's not going to be a quarterback in college---played a big role in Millikan's win and their season. If he isn't the Moore League MVP, then they shouldn't name one.

---Silver Vaifanua, a 5-8, 150 pound senior, gained 37 yards on five rushes with one TD, the TD run a 33-yard inside reverse; had four catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns, both catches on skinny post routes in the middle of Poly's zone; and two interceptions.

---Millikan's first TD came on a 4th-and-5. Their second was on 3rd-and-12. Their third was a one play, one yard drive after a blocked punt, and the fourth was a 48-yard drive with Vaifanua's 33-yard run the big chunk. And their game-winning OT touchdown was on 2nd-and-15.

---Millikan's picks were by Sam Taylor, Silver (two), Darby and Derek Mirales. Pedro Alvarez recovered a fumble, Lonnie Adams blocked a punt, and several hands were up on the blocked PAT.

     News: Los Angeles Dodgers are in a late-season tailspin we haven't seen the likes of since 1996.

     Muse: That was not a vintage year, and right now the '09 season is looking a lot like it did an unlucky 13 years ago.

     Then, the Dodgers held a lead in the N.L. West for most of the season, not as big as it was this September but similar in that they knew they were looking at the postseason. With four games left, they had virtually clinched a playoff spot and had a 2 1/2 game lead on the San Diego Padres for the division title.

     They played with little interest in those four games. They lost game 159 to the Giants, 6-1, then were swept by the Padres, 5-2, 5-4 and 2-0 in 11 innings, and wound up with the wild card. And then promptly were swept by Cincinnati in the National League Division series.

     They lost home field advantage in the process. In the season's final game, manager Bill Russell started ace Ramon Martinez but lifted him after an inning because he wanted him to start Game 1 of the NLDS. Chris Gwynn, the former Poly star, had a two run double in the 11th to win the game, and older brother and fellow Polyite Tony said beating the Dodgers to win the division, at Dodger Stadium, and on a hit by his brother, was one of the highlights of his Hall of Fame career.

     The Reds scored four runs off Martinez in Game 1 of the NLDS and won 7-2, broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth in a 5-4 Game 2 win, and then sent the Dodgers home with a 10-1 win in Game 3.

    The Dodgers haven't seemed interested in baseball for awhile. Manny Ramirez is still Manny being Manny---but only if his last name was Mota, and not vintage Manny Mota, but 61-year-old Manny Mota.

    Hate to see the season end in Dodger Blew.