Centaurs Progress In Summer Football

Handler Excels At Quarterback

The Culver City High School football program advances with summer passing league completion. The Centaurs recently reached the consolation bracket championship game in the Bonita High Air Assault Tournament involving 30 teams.

Culver lost the title game, 38-18 to Santiago High of Corona.

David Handler, the 6-foot-5 quarterback who previously played for Palisades High, excelled for the Centaurs. Among other accomplishments he threw six touchdown passes in a 43-10 win over Arroyo High.

In the Centaurs’ first tournament game against Damien High several players arrived late because they were attending summer school. Handler was one of them so receiver Miles Washington played quarterback and threw two first half touchdown passes.

One went to Lonnie Walker, a transfer from Westchester High, the other to Reynard Saxon.

Handler threw a touchdown pass to Stanley Norman in the second half and Culver won, 20-12.

Culver then defeated Santa Fe, a CIF playoff semi-finalist last season, 28-6, but lost to Los Osos, 14-8 despite Handler throwing a touchdown pass to Marcus Moore.

Villa Park was the next opponent and Culver was defeated, 36-34 in overtime. An interception by Norman allowed the Centaurs to gain a 34-34 tie before Villa Park scored the winning points.

Culver then defeated Citrus Valley, 26-24 as Centaur track star Brendon Hassan caught three touchdown passes from Handler.

Other Centaur highlights were touchdown receptions by Moore and Junile Flowers.

Some teams were sent home at this point but Culver was among those who moved on in the competition.

Culver played perennial powerhouse Servite and absorbed a 40-18 loss but bounced back with wins over Walnut, 36-8, Arroyo, 42-10 and Bonita, 32-30.

Then came the championship game loss to Santiago of Corona.

Coach Jahmal Wright’s Centaur team is scheduled to play in two more summer passing league tournaments.

The Centaurs’ regular season opener will be against West Torrance on Sept. 6.