Chatsworth Football Looks to Stop El Camino Real's Star Running Back

• Final Score:
  ECR 49, Chatsworth 20
  Sierra Canyon 42, Brentwood 8

Chatsworth High’s football team has a big job tonight.

Big as in 5-foot-10, 230 pounds. That’s the size of opposing running back Kawan Rally of El Camino Real, one of California’s leading rushers heading into a 7:15 p.m. West Valley League game between Chatsworth (4-3, 0-2) and the visiting Conquistadores (6-1, 2-0).

Rally  has rushed for 1,696 yards and scored 24 touchdowns, having totaled more than 177 yards in every game including two 300-yard performances and three 200-yard performances.

“We’re looking at ECR as a tough opponent. Kawan has been pretty much unstoppable,” Chatsworth safety Austin Cruz said. “I believe he’s a good runner, but anything is possible. We just need to shed our blocks, make a tackle and hold on.”

El Camino Real runs a double-wing offense featuring several pulling blockers at the point of attack. Generally, the Conquistadores like to give the ball to Rally and with a stampede in front of him, and it’s hard to stop without a strong, physical defense.

“Basically, ECR just tries to power you into submission. They’ve come in like a juggernaut, and they’re getting it done,” Chatsworth coach Andrew Kim said. “Time of possession and rushing yards are definitely the key. We have to stop the run, but we can’t worry too much about Kawan Rally because they have other guys, too.”

After a good start, Chatsworth has lost two in a row. Tonight is a key moment for the defending City Section Division Ii finalist Chancellors heading into the final three weeks of the season.

“It’s going to be a turning point that’s going to decide what kind of team we are,” Cruz said. “Obviously, the West Valley League is tough. We just need to play to our potential, and we really haven’t done that since the beginning of the season. But we’re motivated, and we’re up to the challenge. We just need to step up and do our jobs.”

Compounding matters is an undisclosed injury to Eric Waters, Chatsworth’s top player. Waters, a running back, has scored 19 touchdowns, but he is questionable after being pulled in the first quarter last week in a loss to Granada Hills.

“We’re kind of reeling with injuries,” Kim said. “When Eric left last week, we had to kind of change our game plan.”

Kim said Waters will suit up, but how much he plays depends on how Waters feels.

“He’s not 100 percent. I would say it’s 50-50,” Kim said. “He’s questionable.”

Either way, Chatsworth is going to have to buck up.

“It’s a defining game to see if we can even be mentioned in the same category,” Kim said. “The  West Valley League is a very good league, and hopefully we can turn the season around.”

MORE HURTIN’ FOR CERTAIN

Sierra Canyon, California’s top-ranked small-school football program, is 7-0, but like Chatsworth, the Trailblazers have injury problems, too. Star receiver/defensive back Julian Brooks (toe) is out for today’s 3:30 p.m. game at Brentwood, and receiver/defensive back Kieran Yancy (knee) is out for the season, plus offensive lineman Remy Linaras and receiver Jacob Little won’t play today because of illness.

“We’re trying to recover,” Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said.

Brooks is out for four weeks, which means he won’t be available next week for a heavily anticipated rematch with Paraclete, the only opponent to defeat Sierra Canyon since the beginning of last season, doing so twice – once to win the Alpha League title, then again in the East Valley Division championship.

CELEBRITY CHEER

Sierra Canyon’s cheerleading squad includes Kendall and Kyle Jenner -- who are half-sisters to tabloid star Kim Kardashian – along with Corrine Foxx, the daughter of award-winning actor Jamie Foxx.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

El Camino Real (6-1) at Chatsworth (4-3), 7:15 tonight--Chatsworth must contain ECR running back Kawan Rally (24 TDs), or it's going to be a long night.

Sierra Canyon (7-0) at Brentwood (3-4), 3:30 today--Injury-strapped Sierra Canyon should still have more than enough as the visiting Trailblazers tune up for Paraclete next week.