Griffins take new look to West L.A.

2026 GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Grossmont’s defense faces West L.A.’s two-back ground attack; Kearns package and Phillips’ arrival give offense additional options

By RAMON SCOTT
EastCountySports.com

CULVER CITY — Grossmont discovered another way to win last Saturday.

Now the Griffins must prove they can take that expanded identity on the road.

One week after backup quarterback Michael Kearns III transformed a planned specialty package into a three-touchdown performance against previously unbeaten Santa Monica, Grossmont visits West Los Angeles College Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Griffins enter at 5-2 overall and 3-0 in American Pacific League play, riding a four-game winning streak after their 38-26 victory over the Corsairs.

West L.A. is officially 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Wildcats have won three straight, although their most recent result was a forfeit victory over L.A. Pierce. Their four games on the field include losses to Antelope Valley and College of the Desert followed by victories over Compton and L.A. Southwest.

The matchup presents a direct test of each team’s greatest strength.

West L.A. averages 211 rushing yards per game and features two backs averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Grossmont allows only 80.5 rushing yards per game, holding opponents to 2.9 yards per attempt.

If the Griffins control that confrontation, they should return from Culver City with sole possession of first place intact.

If West L.A. establishes its ground game, Grossmont could find itself in the kind of prolonged road struggle that leaves little room for penalties or turnovers.

WILDCATS KEEP IT ON THE GROUND

West L.A. has attempted only 55 passes across its four games on the field.

The Wildcats have run the football 141 times for 844 yards, averaging six yards per attempt.

Freshman Dane Dunn leads the attack with 340 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries. Sophomore Malikai Johnson has added 313 yards and two scores on 49 attempts.

Together, they have produced 653 yards on 102 carries, an average of 6.4 yards every time one of them receives the ball.

The approach is not complicated.

West L.A. wants to establish Dunn and Johnson, remain ahead of the chains and reduce the number of possessions available to its opponent.

Quarterback Brandon Tolson has completed 25 of 43 passes for 341 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Eliot Ming has contributed 103 yards and two touchdowns, also without an interception.

Neither quarterback has been asked to carry the offense. West L.A. averages only 111 passing yards per game, but its five touchdown passes against no interceptions demonstrate efficiency when opponents devote too much attention to the run.

That balance places responsibility on Grossmont’s front seven.

The Griffins cannot allow Dunn and Johnson to control the game, but crowding the line of scrimmage creates opportunities for West L.A. athlete Andrew Washington, who averages 19.1 yards per reception and leads the Wildcats with 425 all-purpose yards.

STRENGTH AGAINST STRENGTH

Grossmont’s run defense has been the most consistent element of its four-game winning streak.

The Griffins have allowed 483 rushing yards across six games. Their opponents average only 2.9 yards per carry and have scored six rushing touchdowns.

Runnar Miller Jr. leads Grossmont with seven tackles for loss and 2½ sacks. Jeremiah Savaiinaea Jr. has five tackles for loss and two sacks, while Jirah Savaiinaea Jr. has produced 4½ tackles for loss.

The Griffins also have received disruptive production from Avery Morris, James Tivao, Lincoln Chukwuemeka, Esai Valera and Anthony Lopez.

That depth matters against a West L.A. offense committed to repeatedly testing the same front.

Grossmont’s challenge will be maintaining its discipline across an entire afternoon. Dunn and Johnson do not need every carry to become a major gain. Their production comes from remaining patient until missed fits or tired defenders create space.

The Wildcats’ ability to rotate two productive backs makes the test different from Santa Monica’s pass-oriented offense.

Last week, the Corsairs attempted 45 passes and rushed for only 81 yards.

This week, the run is the starting point rather than the alternative.

QUARTERBACK PLAN EXPANDS

Grossmont enters with more offensive possibilities than it possessed one week ago.

Melvin Spicer IV remains the Griffins’ most experienced passer. The sophomore has completed 80 of 137 attempts for 941 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Spicer helped Grossmont establish a 10-3 lead against Santa Monica, completing a 49-yard pass to freshman Isaiah Grant from Lincoln High and throwing a 29-yard touchdown to Elijah Smith.

Kearns entered late in the first half as part of a planned package, scoring on a three-yard run after Isaac Syph’s 39-yard punt return.

Grossmont stayed with Kearns after halftime to protect Spicer over the length of the season.

“We stayed with Kearns to keep Spicer healthy,” Mitchell said following the victory. “He is a warrior when it comes to taking shots, but we need him for the duration of the season and not just today.”

Kearns completed 6 of 10 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, rushed 13 times for 72 yards and two scores and added a two-point conversion.

His mobility changed Santa Monica’s defensive responsibilities.

Kearns converted short-yardage situations with designed runs, extended plays outside the pocket and forced defenders to choose between pursuing him or remaining with receivers. His 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaidan Brooks came after his movement drew a defender toward the line.

Kearns then scored on a 26-yard option keeper in the fourth quarter and ran for the conversion.

Grossmont has not announced how the quarterback work will be divided against West L.A.

That uncertainty benefits the Griffins.

West L.A. must prepare for Spicer’s conventional passing offense and the run-pass conflicts created by Kearns. Even if Spicer takes every traditional quarterback snap, the Kearns package is now too productive to dismiss as an occasional goal-line wrinkle.

PHILLIPS ADDS ANOTHER OPTION

Grossmont also introduced a new running back against Santa Monica.

Freshman Ka’tyleon “Ty” Phillips rushed 14 times for 70 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards in his season debut, producing 96 yards from scrimmage.

The Greenville, Alabama, product averaged five yards per carry and gave Grossmont dependable production in a game played without leading rusher Ethan Ford and Ladarrione Perkins.

Phillips did not require a long adjustment period.

He gained 19 yards on a reception during Grossmont’s opening possession, carried for nine yards during a 99-yard touchdown drive and produced consecutive runs of 14 and 12 yards late in the first half.

His nine-yard run helped begin Kearns’ fourth-quarter touchdown drive. His seven-yard reception contributed to the 6:16 possession that secured the victory.

Phillips’ physical running style also complemented Kearns.

Defenders required to account for the quarterback could not commit as quickly to the back, while Phillips’ ability to gain productive yardage prevented Grossmont from becoming dependent upon Kearns keepers.

Whether Ford or Perkins returns Saturday remains to be seen. Phillips’ emergence gives the Griffins another viable option regardless.

Grossmont now can construct its running game from several different styles: Ford’s established production, Perkins’ 6.4-yard average, Phillips’ physical presence and Kearns’ mobility.

TURNOVERS TELL DIFFERENT STORIES

West L.A.’s quarterbacks have not thrown an interception this season.

Grossmont cannot make the same claim about its ball security.

The Griffins committed three turnovers against Santa Monica and have lost seven turnovers through six games. They also committed 12 penalties for 117 yards, marking their fourth consecutive game with at least 100 penalty yards.

Grossmont was talented and resilient enough to overcome those mistakes against the previously unbeaten Corsairs.

Continually asking the defense to erase short fields is dangerous, particularly on the road against a team capable of controlling possession.

West L.A.’s defense has intercepted four passes and recovered one fumble in its four games on the field. Ken-trell Holley, Amir Rogers, SirRey Tyler-Mathews and Terrall Tillman each have an interception.

The Wildcats do not produce overwhelming defensive statistics, but they have shown an ability to take advantage of careless throws.

Grossmont’s best path is avoiding the kind of self-inflicted trouble that could allow West L.A. to dictate tempo.

SPECIAL TEAMS FAVOR GROSSMONT

A close game could highlight one of the largest differences between the teams.

Grossmont has converted 10 of 14 field-goal attempts and 18 of 21 extra points. West L.A. has not recorded a field-goal attempt in its four games on the field and has attempted only two conventional extra points.

The Wildcats instead have converted four two-point attempts.

Grossmont has three place-kickers with field goals this season.

Philipa Trakas is perfect on all four of his attempts, including a 43-yard winner against L.A. Valley and a 39-yarder against Santa Monica. Jasper Brandenburg is 3-for-4 with a long of 45 yards, while Lucas Mora has made three field goals.

That depth could become decisive if possessions are limited by West L.A.’s running game.

Grossmont also received a major contribution from Syph last week. His 39-yard punt return placed the ball at the Santa Monica 7 and created Kearns’ first touchdown.

West L.A. has surrendered only 14.9 yards per kickoff return, although Washington and Corey Hudson give the Wildcats their own threats in the return game.

THE STAKES

Grossmont’s win over Santa Monica moved the Griffins to the front of the American Pacific race.

Saturday offers a different challenge.

The victory over the Corsairs carried the energy of a home game against an unbeaten opponent. West L.A. presents a quieter test against a physical team capable of shortening the afternoon and keeping the score close.

Those are precisely the games Grossmont has not always controlled in recent seasons.

The current Griffins, however, have begun demonstrating a greater ability to finish.

They escaped L.A. Valley with a one-point victory, controlled Victor Valley on the road and scored 22 of the final 28 points against Santa Monica.

Another victory would extend Grossmont’s winning streak to five, improve its conference record to 4-0 and place the Griffins another step closer to turning an encouraging stretch into a legitimate championship run.

PREDICTION

West L.A.’s running game and home field should prevent this from becoming comfortable.

Grossmont has the better defensive matchup, substantially more proven kicking and greater flexibility at quarterback. The Griffins’ ability to hold opponents below three yards per rushing attempt is the most important statistic in the game.

The prediction assumes Grossmont reduces its penalties and does not lose the turnover margin.

GROSSMONT 31, WEST L.A. 27

GAME CAPSULE

Grossmont (5-2, 3-0) at West Los Angeles (3-2, 1-0)
Saturday, Oct. 10, 1 p.m.
Culver City

Grossmont offense: 339.7 yards, 31.3 points per game
Grossmont defense: 322.3 yards, 24.8 points allowed per game
West L.A. offense: 322.0 yards, 33.0 points per on-field game
West L.A. defense: 298.3 yards, 27.3 points allowed per on-field game

MATCHUP TO WATCH

West L.A. rushing offense vs. Grossmont rushing defense

West L.A.: 211.0 yards per game, 6.0 per carry
Grossmont defense: 80.5 yards allowed per game, 2.9 per carry

WEST L.A. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dane Dunn, RB: 53 carries, 340 yards, 3 TD
Malikai Johnson, RB: 49 carries, 313 yards, 2 TD
Brandon Tolson, QB: 25-of-43, 341 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Andrew Washington, ATH: 425 all-purpose yards
Jaidus Jones, EDGE: 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss
Kristian Sardin, DL: 2 sacks
Ken-trell Holley, DB/P: Interception, 31 return yards

GROSSMONT PLAYERS TO WATCH

Melvin Spicer IV, QB: 941 passing yards, 6 TD
Michael Kearns III, QB: 146 passing yards, 3 TD; 62 rushing yards, 2 TD
Ka’tyleon Phillips, RB: 96 scrimmage yards in season debut
Philipa Trakas, K: 4-for-4 field goals, long of 43
Runnar Miller Jr., DL: 7 tackles for loss, 2½ sacks
Jeremiah Savaiinaea Jr., LB: 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
Isaac Turner, DB: 2 interceptions, 107 return yards

BY THE NUMBERS

4 — Consecutive Grossmont victories
3-0 — Grossmont’s conference record
211.0 — West L.A.’s rushing yards per game
80.5 — Grossmont’s rushing yards allowed per game
6.4 — Yards per carry for both Dunn and Johnson
96 — Phillips’ scrimmage yards in his Grossmont debut
10 — Grossmont field goals this season
0 — West L.A. field-goal attempts in four on-field games
4 — Consecutive games in which Grossmont has exceeded 100 penalty yards

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