Defense Lets Dorsey Apply the Clincher

Dorsey High did it with defense.

The Dons won a share of their first Southern Pacific Conference football title since 1995 by defeating rival Crenshaw, 27-4, Friday afternoon at Crenshaw.

Dorsey and Banning tied for the championship with 6-1 records, but Dorsey will be the conference’s top-seeded team in the City Section playoffs that begin next Thursday because the Dons defeated Banning, 36-35, on Oct. 16.

The playoff selection committee meets today to determine the 16 strongest teams that will compete for the City championship, formerly known as the 4-A division, and the 16 teams that will play for the Division championship, formerly known as the 3-A.

If tradition holds, Dorsey, as the No. 1 team from the perennially strong Southern Pacific Conference, will emerge from the meeting as the top-seeded team in the City division, which includes the six conference champions and 10 at-large teams deemed strongest by the playoff selection committee. However, undefeated Venice, the Coastal Conference champion, is also expected to be considered for the No. 1 spot.

Banning (7-3) probably will be no higher than a seventh-seeded team because the top team from each conference has historically received one of the top six spots.

“We’re No. 1,” Dorsey linebacker Larrie Neal said. “We beat Banning and we beat Crenshaw. There’s no doubt.”

Dorsey (7-2-1) did not surrender an offensive point and took advantage of three interceptions en route to the victory Friday.

Crenshaw (6-4) controlled the first quarter, driving to the Dons’ one-yard line on each of its first two possessions.

Cougar quarterback Keenan Carter fumbled to end both drives, but Crenshaw twice tackled Dorsey running back Nevin McGee in the end zone for safeties and a 4-0 lead.

“We knew we were still in the game because of our defense,” said McGee, who gained 122 yards in 14 carries and scored two touchdowns. “It was just a matter of time until they did something to get us going.”

Defensive back Charles Casey provided the spark by intercepting a pass by Carter with 3:35 left in the first quarter. Six plays later, Dorsey running back Major Cobb ran 30 yards for a touchdown, giving Dorsey all the points it needed.

Dorsey defensive lineman Asa Taylor gave the Dons a 14-4 halftime lead by intercepting a swing pass by Carter and returning it 34 yards for a touchdown with 6:02 left in the second quarter.

McGee increased the margin with a 52-yard touchdown run with 2:02 left in the third quarter. Cobb picked off a Carter pass 30 seconds later, and McGee scored on a 17-yard run with 26 seconds left in the quarter.

“We’ve been scored on first in every game this season,” Cobb said. “Coming back is nothing new for us. We came back after being down 21 points against Banning.

“We’re ready for the playoffs and we’re ready to win it all.”