Culver City Observer -

First Opponent: West Torrance

Culver City is expected to have a difficult task in its season opener Friday night.

West Torrance defeated Culver last season in a high=scoring, entertaining game. The coaching staff believes it has another highly representative team.

ALSO ON THE WESTSIDE

SANTA MONICA

Culver’s primary challenger in the Ocean League has a new quarterback as it begins the season at Redondo Friday night.

Redondo began its season last Friday with a 49-12 win over North Torrance.

Santa Monica has won the league championship the last two years.

Coach Travis Clark has selected Jordan Detamore to start the season but will continue to evaluate others, including senior Nico Basile, a former highly-regarded candidate who left to play for Crespi High last season, then returned.

Detamore has been in the program the last three years as a seldom-used reserve.

Santa Monica, which was 8-4 last season, is ranked No. 3 in the Western Division in the CIF poll.

ST. MONICA

After reaching the CIF semi-finals in the playoffs last season the Mariners began this one with a 50-36 loss to Village Christian last Friday night at Corsair Field.

Village Christian, which also defeated St. Monica last season, is coached by former UCLA quarterback Jay Schroeder.

BRENTWOOD

Last week Brentwood lost to Rio Hondo Prep, 36-6 in its season opener.

Patrick Brown began his 35^th and final season as the Eagles’ coach. He is retiring from the position but staying locally as he just purchased a home in Lakewood, close to where he and his family have lived for many years.

Brown has had a legendary career at Brentwood, guiding the program from its 8-man days to success in 11-man football.

Brentwood doesn’t have a player who weighs 200 pounds. By contrast, Santa Monica High has six players weighing at least 250.

Eli Stern takes over at quarterback as Connor Boggs has graduated. Star receiver Garret Swanky also has moved on. He’s at Brown University.

The Alpha League’s eight teams will be split into two divisions this season. Brentwood and Windward will be in the same division.

VENICE

After opening its season last weekend with a 57-33 loss at Chaminade, Venice will host Salesian Friday night.

Former Venice High and Santa Monica College quarterback Angelo Gasca has built a consistenly outstanding program as the Gondoliers’ coach.

Venice was 10-3 last season and reached the LA City Section playoff semi-finals before losing to Crenshaw.

As this season begins only Narbonne is ranked higher than Venice in the LA City Section.