Culver City Observer -

By Fred Altieri

Sports Reporter

The Culver City High football team plays its first game of the 2016 season on the road this Friday, August 2, at West High in Torrance.

The defending Ocean League champion Centaurs will be seeking their first win against West in five years following their last win in 2011. Last season Culver was shut out 22-0 in a game that was undecided until the fourth quarter.

This year's game is expected to be a hard-hitting close game with the Centaur players having gained more experience with a good returning class. Last year's breakout quarterback Jonathan Martin, now a junior, is expected to start the opener.

Also featured are returning backs juniors Brandon Oum and Nick Bradley. Returning receivers are seniors Deven Osborne, Justin Cox, Mekhi Ware and Robert Simon.

The Culver defense kept the team in the game against West last season until the fourth quarter when they gave up two late touchdowns. The defense will feature senior linebackers Elijah Zavala and Elijah Salazar, junior defensive Justin Berry, Jayden Porter and Nathan Stennett and senior defensive backs Mekhi Ware, John Lewis and Justin Cox.

The Centaurs' first home game of the season at Jerry Chabola Stadium will be on Friday, September 9, hosting the Torrance High Tartars. The remainder of the 2016 schedule follows: Sept. 16 vs. North; Sept. 23 at University; Sept. 30 vs. Dorsey; Oct. 7 vs. El Segundo; Oct. 14 at Lawndale; Oct. 21 at Hawthorne; Oct. 28 vs. Santa Monica; Nov. 4 at Beverly Hills.