Hawkins Helps Banning Breeze Past Poly, 45-10

Banning High’s potent offense and dominating defense overwhelmed Poly in a first-round City Section 4-A Division playoff game at Gardena High.

Banning tailback Shayzar Hawkins rushed for 174 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Pilots to a 45-10 victory.

The No. 3-seeded Pilots (10-1) jumped to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and coasted through the final three quarters to advance to the quarterfinals. Poly, the 3-A Division champion last year, finished 8-3.

Banning looked sharp in the first quarter, but then lost three fumbles and one interception.

“We got out to a real early, quick lead and then we let down a bit,” Banning Coach Joe Dominguez said.

Junior quarterback Andre Faavi-Tau’au completed his first four passes, and finished five of nine for 84 yards. He scored on runs of 54 and 12 yards in the first half.

Hawkins, a 5-foot-11, 168-pound back, scored on runs of six, 25 and 41 yards.

Banning scored easily on its first three possessions. The Pilots scored on the second play from scrimmage after receiving the opening kickoff.

After a three-yard run by Hawkins on first down, Faavi-Tua’au kept the ball on the option and raced 54 yards down the Banning sideline to give Poly a 7-0 lead.

Poly’s offense sputtered throughout the first quarter, failing to convert a first down in each of its first four possessions.

Banning scored again on its second play of its second possession. Hawkins’ 35-yard run off the left tackle set up a 24-yard scoring pass from Faavi-Tua’au to tight end Gabe Sadi. Faavi-Tua’au rolled right and hit Sadi at the five in the right flat.

Faavi-Tua’au’s 39-yard pass to Jimmy Legaspi on the Pilots’ first play of their third possession helped set up a six-yard touchdown run by Hawkins four plays later.

The Parrots had plenty of chances to change the tempo of the game, but couldn’t get their offense in gear.

Mike Sierra kicked a 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter for Poly’s only score of the first half.