The Culver City High School varsity football team will face their toughest test of the young season when Salesian high school comes to Culver City to lock horns with the Centaurs on Friday, September12, at 7 p.m. This will be Culver City‘s first home game of the 2025 season after winning two games on the road against King Drew, on August 28, and beating Narbonne 43-6 last Friday.
Both teams have scored a lot of points. Salesian has combined to score 110 points in three games, and the Centaurs have scored 84 points in two games. Both teams are led on offense by young quarterbacks. Culver City‘s junior quarterback Nicholas Hoang has completed 28 of 42 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns. Salesian’s signal caller, 6’4, 210-pound freshman Marty Slye has thrown for 359 yards and two touchdowns.
“Against Salesian we have to keep relying on our defense because we have a strong defensive line and linebackers,” said Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright in a telephone interview this week. “Salesian has a very good offense and very good running backs and a big quarterback. It’s going to be really important for us to control the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.
“We have to focus on our responsibilities and really tackle well,” said Wright. “All three levels of our defense have to be ready. The lineman, linebackers and defensive backs must play one play at a time and be locked in.”
The Centaurs had to replace a lot of key starters from last year and so far, things have worked out. Hoang looks good and the new running back Langston Wilson has done a great job running and catching the ball. He has run the ball 16 times for 116 yards, and he has caught six passes for 97 yards.
Some of the new receivers have also stepped up and filled some big shoes. Jo’el La Foe has caught four passes for 67 yards; Noah Cunningham has four receptions for 57 yards and Nolan Risenberg has caught two passes for 56 yards. Those new receivers and along with veteran receivers William Fourte and Harley Moore give the Centaurs a strong group of pass catchers.
“We have a new starter at quarterback and a new starter at running back and new receivers,” said Wright. “I am pleased how we are gradually improving every week. I am very pleased with the progress that we have made so far.”
The defense is led by lineman Matio Reyes, linebackers Jordan Njoku and Damarion Boyd and defensive backs Derrick Huezo Jr. and Evan Powell.
After two road games to start the season Wright is happy to be playing a home game inside the Jerry Chabola Stadium.
“We are always excited to play at home,” said Wright. “Our home football games are always very special. It’s a community event and we love how the community gets behind us and attends the games.
“We are excited to have three home games in a row, but we are really focused on trying to win this first home game,” said Wright. “I really enjoy how our players get excited about playing a home game. It’s always about our players enjoying a great experience. They get to play in front of their family and friends. Some of the players on the team watched the games from the stands and now they are on the field. That’s pretty special.”