Ocean League Football Preview

At this, the halfway point of the season, the football team finds itself right where it wants to be, poised to challenge for the championship. League play opens Friday and the Vikings hope to make an early statement against defending champion Inglewood at .

The Vikings lost to Inglewood 28-7 in their league opener last year, a 21-point defeat that eventually cost Samohi a playoff berth. has seen steady improvement from these Vikings throughout the first five weeks of the season and expects them to be in revenge mode by kickoff.

"Inglewood's got fantastic athletes and they're the defending champs," Clark said. "No way are we going to take them lightly. Every game is a must-win from here on out and we want to start things off the right way, with a good performance Friday night. Right now, I'd say Culver City is looking pretty strong. They might be the team to beat. I'm excited to be starting league. I think we should do well."

Here's a preview of the Ocean League, along with Friday's matchups:

Culver City (4-1)

Last season: 6-5 overall, 3-2 in league (T-2nd place)

The Centaurs had won 14 of 15 league games en route to first place in the standings three years in a row before last season, when they went 3-2 and finished in a three-way tie for second place. Based on this season's results, Coach Jahmal Wright's squad again looks like the team to beat. Culver City's only loss came at home last week at the hands of City Section powerhouse Harbor City Narbonne and it might be just the fuel the Centaurs needed to stay focused heading into the second half of the season. As usual, they have a talented group of receivers, led by Alex Jackson, Julius Wilson, Kevin Porche and Michael Horchin. Through five games, Culver City has scored more points (208) than any team in the league but has allowed 107 (second most to Beverly Hills). Senior quarterback Lukas O'Connor has thrown 15 touchdown passes. The Centaurs are ranked No. 7 in the CIF Southern Section's Western Division poll.

Santa Monica (4-1)

Last season: 6-4 overall, 3-2 in league (T-2nd place)

Clark believes this is the strongest defense he's had in his three seasons and so far the Vikings have done nothing to dispel that notion. Despite the loss of USC-bound defensive tackle Chad Wheeler to injury in Week 3, they posted three shutouts in nonleague action, allowing only 48 total points in their five contests. Granted, three of the Vikings' opponents (Leuzinger, Palisades and Anaheim Canyon) still have yet to win a game, but Samo played Valencia (ranked 10th in the Northern Division) tough in its only loss and demolished Compton Centennial (ranked third in the Northwest Division) last week. The Vikings are also second to Culver City in points scored (151), led by senior quarterback Christian Salem, who has thrown eight touchdown passes, including five to his favorite target Sebastian LaRue. The Vikings are just outside the Top 10 in the Western Division poll, but could crack the list for the first time with a victory Friday.

Beverly Hills (1-4)

Last season: 6-5 overall, 3-2 in league (T-2nd place)

The Normans took their lumps in nonleague play, allowing more points (177) than any team in the league. They have also scored the second fewest points (72), with more than only Inglewood in that department. Working in their favor is a fairly strong schedule (Canyon and Alemany are ranked in their CIF-SS divisions), but senior quarterbacks Brandon Adams and Cameron Countryman must step up if Coach Donald Paysinger's squad is going to compete for the league title. The Normans have dropped three straight games, but they beat this week's opponent, Hawthorne, 49-20 last season and have 47 upperclassmen on their roster. Another factor working in Beverly Hills' favor is that it will face Santa Monica, Inglewood and Culver City at home. Frank Brown has been the Normans' leading rusher with 336 yards while Adams has been effective over the last three games, throwing for 100-plus yards in each.

Inglewood (1-4)

Last season: 9-3 overall, 5-0 in league (1st place)

Star receiver and safety Derrick Woods, perhaps the most electrifying player in the league last fall, is back. However, the Sentinels are feeling the loss of their leading rusher Kyle Evans to graduation and have scored 63 points this season, the fewest of the six schools entering league play. Inglewood was the surprise league champion a year ago, but to repeat Coach Stephen Daniel Thomas and his team will have to average more than 12.6 points per game. The Sentinels have lost to two Division I City Section schools (Westchester and San Pedro) and two South Bay programs (Mira Costa and Palos Verdes) with a combined 4-6 mark, so it is difficult to judge their strength of schedule. The first game should tell a lot. Inglewood beat Santa Monica 28-7 last year at Coleman Stadium, when Evans had 142 yards and three touchdowns in 15 carries and Derrick Woods scored on a 58-yard punt return. 

Hawthorne (4-1)

Last season: 2-8 overall, 1-4 in league (5th place)

The Cougars beat Morningside 12-7 for their only league victory last season but the closest they came to each of the other four teams was 29 points. This year, Hawthorne is off to a better start, although a weak schedule makes it difficult to ascertain whether or not it is as good as its record. The dual quarterback system has been working thus far with junior Rickie Calderon (353 yards) and senior Medina Salaam (310 yards). The leading rushers are Isaih Brame (17 carries for 268 yards and four touchdowns) and La Tofaeono (50 carries for 249 yards. The combined records of the Cougars' five nonleague opponents is 8-18. Coach Joe Kanach and his team carry a three-game winning streak into Friday's league opener against Beverly Hills, which routed the Cougars 49-20 last fall. A possible advantage for Hawthorne is that its two league road games appear to be winnable—both at Coleman Stadium against the Inglewood schools.

Morningside (3-2)

Last season: 1-9 overall, 0-5 in league (6th place)

The Monarchs have already won more games than they did all of last season. Now the question is whether or not they will creep out of the cellar in the league standings. They have a huge test out of the gate, facing high-powered Culver City in its homecoming game, but three of their last four are at home against Hawthorne, Beverly Hills and Inglewood. Outside of Santa Monica, the Monarchs have allowed the least amount of points (76) and their 124 points ranks third among league schools. One measuring stick that Morningside may not match up with the favorites is its 20-14 loss to Compton Centennial—the same team that lost to Santa Monica 41-16 last week. Coach Sheron Butler's squad has scored 11 of its 14 offensive touchdowns on the ground, with Dana Dotson rushing for 303 yards and six touchdowns. Morningside was crushed by Culver City 44-0 last season in its league opener at Coleman Stadium.

Friday's Schedule:

Inglewood vs. Santa Monica at Santa Monica College, 7 p.m.

Beverly Hills at Hawthorne, 7 p.m.

Morningside at Culver City, 7 p.m.