With Santa Monica High having to begin the football season with four road games, the prospects weren’t good for coming home with a favorable record.
But it will be an undefeated Samohi team that plays at Corsair Field Friday night, October 10.
Samohi will oppose Capistrano Valley in a non-league game – the last one before the Ocean League contests begin a week later.
A 21-13 win over Long Beach Jordan on Friday, October 3 capped the Vikings’ improbable run through the opening month.
The first four games were scheduled away because artificial turf was being installed at Corsair Field. Samohi’s opening win over Leuzinger was a surprise, its romp over Palisades was expected, a conquest of Venice ended a six-year losing streak to the Gondoliers, and the win in Long Beach raised eyebrows throughout the Southern California prep ranks.
It was well known that Long Beach Jordan had superb athletes, including a first-rate quarterback. And it was well known that Jordan dominated Capistrano Valley when they played in September. But Samohi stood up to the challenge by taking control following a 7-7 first half.
“We wore them down,” said Samohi coach Zach Cuda. “They’re an excellent team but we were deeper.”
Jordan had several ineligible players, which affected its depth. But it isn’t often an Ocean League team bullies a higher regarded non-league opponent up front.
Samohi has relied on its running game this season and kept up that trend by gaining 238 yards on the ground. In addition, quarterback Garrett Safron, in his first varsity season, was efficient once again. He completed five of seven passes for 88 yards, including one touchdown on a 38-yard toss to Luke Zelon.
“He [Safron] was there when we needed him,” said Cuda.
Christian Ross was Samohi’s leading rusher with 135 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Chyenne Jones also did well in the absence of injured Vince Lawrence.
The defense was led by Zelon with 12 tackles, Daryl James with 11 and Drew Hammond with nine.
Samohi began the second half with a long scoring drive. Jordan then came back with a touchdown but missed the extra point, and then Samohi scored the game’s final touchdown.
Samohi now moves up the favorite’s role in the Ocean League as two-time champion Culver City suffered its first loss in a non-league game against Crenshaw.