Eagles Never Get Off Ground in 48-14 Loss

Friday night was one of those nights that the Verbum Dei High football team won’t soon forget.

Very little went the Eagles’ way in a 48-14 loss against St. Monica in a Camino Real League game at Culver City High.

The defending co-league champion Mariners scored on their first six possessions en route to a 41-0 halftime lead. The loss deflated Verbum Dei’s chances for its first league title in seven years.

“We basically went out there and dominated them,” St. Monica quarterback Oscar Casillas said. Casillas completed five of nine passes for 137 yards and four touchdowns. St. Monica did not attempt a pass in the second half and did not punt until less than four minutes remained.

Ali Henry scored on a 13-yard run with 6:33 to play for the Eagles’ first points.

“We didn’t start playing until after three quarters,” Henry said. “By the time everybody got up, it was too late.”

Verbum Dei quarterback Andre Miller plunged in for a two-yard score and ran in for the two-point conversion with 1:05 left to bring the final score to 48-14. Miller completed seven of 16 passes for 97 yards after misfiring on six of his first seven attempts.

“We didn’t play as well as we are capable at all,” Verbum Dei linebacker Brian Bernard said. “I guess we just weren’t concentrating.”

St. Monica was far from perfect on its way to notching its seventh consecutive victory. However, the Mariners, who were penalized 12 times for 137 yards, managed to turn two fumbles into touchdowns.

Steve Pulley, who caught four passes for 121 yards, kicked the ball into the end zone after grabbing a short pass. But Pulley fell on the fumble in the end zone to complete a 32-yard scoring drive with 11:11 to play in the half.

Casillas bobbled a snap in the backfield, only to pick up the ball and race for a nine-yard score to increase the lead to 35-0 with 5:35 left before halftime.

“Offensively, we got a few rolls,” St. Monica Coach Norm Lacy said. “Defensively, we had a solid effort. They weren’t able to do much.”

Kenny Jackson, who rushed for 100 yards in 17 carries, scored his third touchdown on a 17-yard run to put the Mariners up 48-0 with 5:48 to play in the third quarter.

SM--Pulley 20 pass from Casillas (pass failed)

SM--Jackson 11 pass from Casillas (Pulley from Casillas)

SM--Pulley 32 pass from Casillas (Jones kick)

SM--Pulley 57 pass from Casillas (Jones kick)

SM--Jackson 12 run (Jones kick)

SM--Casillas 9 run (kick failed)

SM--Jackson 17 run (Jones kick)

VD--Henry 13 run (kick failed)

VD--Miller 2 run (Miller run)

Records: Verbum Dei 4-4; St. Monica 7-1

Next week: Verbum Dei vs. Montclair Prep at L.A. Valley College.