Chatsworth Loses Key Football Finale at Taft

• Final Scores: Sierra Canyon 48, Downey Calvary Chapel 0;
  Taft 42, Chatsworth 14

Needing a win Thursday for a chance to make the City Section football playoffs, Chatsworth High finished the season with a 42-14 loss at Taft that all but eliminated the visiting Chancellors from postseason consideration.

Chatsworth (5-5) lost four of its final five games -- all by eight points or more -- to finish fifth in the six-team league, a disappointing season under first-year coach Andrew Kim after the Chancellors had advanced to the City Section Div. II final last year.

“Things could be better. I think that game was the for the last playoff spot, and Taft probably will get it,” Kim said. “We didn’t show up until the second half after Taft did everything right in the first half, and we had some uncharacteristic mistakes like a couple of fumbled handoffs. We hadn’t done anything like that the whole year.”

Taft scored three quick touchdowns and led by 28 points at the half.

“It’s definitely disappointing. The score is not a good indication,” Kim said.

By rallying in the second half, Chatsworth proved it would not give up, and Kim was proud of the team. Not just for finishing strong but for the whole season. Though the Chancellors, hit hard by graduation as nearly every starter from last year’s team moved on, did not go 10-0, they always played hard, and Kim was pleased from a big-picture perspective.

“We had our chances all season long, a chance to win every game,” Kim said. “We didn’t always pull through, but I’m really proud of our guys. They really played hard every single game. We just had too many inexperienced players at some spots, and it kind of showed through, and other teams were able to capitalize.”

Running back Eric Waters, Chatsworth’s top player, finished with 20 touchdowns, three over the final five games.

SIERRA CANYON LOOKS TO KEEP HEAT ON

Sierra Canyon is 9-0 and winning by an average of more than 35 points, and the Trailblazers see no reason to slow down in the regular-season finale tonight against Downey Calvary Chapel (5-3). Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Downey High.

“It’s my experience that teams that have momentum at the end of the season do well in the playoffs,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said.

The forecast calls for rain tonight, and that could make things a bit more interesting in what is otherwise expected to be another easy win for Sierra Canyon, favored by 50 points by Calpreps.com.

“It’s going to be a little bit of a learning experience, playing in the rain,” Ellinghouse said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Sierra Canyon is coming off a 36-26 win over nemesis Paraclete, a win that clinched the Alpha League championship and kept intact Sierra Canyon’s No. 1 ranking in the East Valley Division and the CIF State Div. IV South.

Sierra Canyon’s Tyler Stewart passed for 250 yards and two touchdowns against Paraclete. He has completed 64 percent for 1,509 and 26 touchdowns.

Sierra Canyon is without two key starters. Running back Xavier Menifield is out with a concussion, and receiver/defensive back Julian Brooks is out with a toe injury. Menifield is probable for the first round of the playoffs, while Brooks is probably lost for the season.

“Obviously, we’re a great team with Julian, and we’re a great team without him, too,” Ellinghouse said. “He is one heck of a player, and he still plans to see a couple of doctors and a specialist. He’s out, but we’re still waiting. We haven’t given up.”