Culver City, Leuzinger Keep Opponents at Bay

The eight-team Bay League is one of the largest in the Southern Section. And with the resurgence of Culver City and Lawndale Leuzinger, it also could be one of the most interesting.

Culver City finished 1-9 last season, but the Centaurs are 3-1 under first-year Coach Tom Salter, who won the 1995 Division I title at La Puente Bishop Amat. Last Friday, Culver City beat Hawthorne, 35-19, in its league opener.

“The kids are playing hard and believing good things happen when you work hard,” Salter said. “We have a real good senior class and a lot of them are starting to play well.”

Running back Karl Paymah, fullback-defensive lineman Devaughn Wallace and defensive back Donte Williams have led the way for Culver City.

Leuzinger was 3-7 last season, but is 3-1 under first-year Coach Don Markham, who won Southern Section championships at Colton and Bloomington.

The Olympians are 3-1 and feature one of the state’s most potent rushing attacks.

Darnell Charles ran for 327 yards in 11 carries and Therrian Fontenot gained 304 in 16 carries two weeks ago in a 56-13 victory over Long Beach Wilson. Last Friday, Tevita Makalo gained 136 yards, Charles 101 and Fontenot 98 in a 52-7 victory over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa.

Both Culver City and Leuzinger, which play each other Oct. 22, will be tested by perennial league power Palos Verdes Peninsula (4-0) and Beverly Hills (2-2).

Culver City plays Santa Monica (1-3) and Leuzinger plays Inglewood (1-2-1) Friday.

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Senior Jermaine Marshall of Kilpatrick is off to one of the fastest starts in the Southern Section with 1,154 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in four games. . . .

Senior quarterback Robert De La Cruz of Cathedral, who passed for 61 touchdowns last season, has thrown for 1,443 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Phantoms.