Nordhoff Stays Grounded, Lets Air Out of St. Monica

PLAYA DEL REY — Nordhoff High was not swayed by the rumble of air traffic from nearby Los Angeles International Airport. Nor did the faint aroma of jet exhaust have any dizzying effects.

The Rangers kept their offense sensible and as close to the ground as possible, pounding out a 21-14 victory over St. Monica in a Southern Section Division X semifinal Friday night at St. Bernard.

Nordhoff advanced to its second Southern Section final in three years.

“We knew their run defense was their weak spot,” Ranger fullback Russell Farrar said. “We just went out and ran the ball like we usually do.”

Farrar continued his hot streak through the playoffs, carrying 19 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard run for the winning points.

“The players worked so hard for this all season,” said Coach Cliff Farrar, his father. “They made the commitment to get back [to the final].”

Nordhoff (12-0-1) opened the scoring midway though the first quarter with a 75-yard drive that was as monotonous as it was effective. Time after time the Rangers pounded the right side of the St. Monica defense.

Linemen Justin Morris and Peter Naumes led the way, followed by either Russell Farrar or Kevin Zielsdorf, who carried 13 times for 82 yards and a touchdown.

No sooner had Farrar scored on a two-yard plunge than Nordhoff got the ball back on Jim Musick’s midfield interception.

It was more of the same, run after run. This time Zielsdorf scored from the seven-yard line for a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

St. Monica had no success with its ground game. Every time Nate Anderson tested the line, he ran into middle linebacker Shane Barrett. It seemed only fitting that Barrett, who goes by the nickname “Orca,” would fare well against a team called the Mariners.

Eventually, St. Monica (9-4) heeded the scream of the jet planes and took to the air, Eliseo Capellino completing five consecutive passes to Raul Reyes, the last a nine-yard touchdown throw to make it 14-7 at halftime.

“We weren’t gong to go down without a fight,” Reyes said.

Farrar broke his 80-yard run in the third quarter and Capellino threw a six-yard touchdown pass to James Dunn with five minutes left in the game.

Nordhoff’s lead was narrowed to 21-14, but the Rangers were able run out the clock.