Centaurs Football Kicks Off Sept. 9

Culver City High School's head football coach begins his third season with great expectations.

The Centaurs posted a 6-5 record last season, finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the Ocean League before falling to Chaminade 52-16 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs.

The nonleague schedule is no cakewalk. After opening the season at home September 9 against , Culver City travels to Palos Verdes for an afternoon game against . The last three nonleague games are at home against , Leuzinger and Los Angeles City Section power Narbonne, which dealt the Centaurs a 42-22 defeat in Harbor City last October. 

The Centaurs host Morningside in their Ocean League opener October 14, then travel to defending champion , which came out on top 66-60 in triple overtime in last year's meeting at Culver City.

The season finale is on the road against archrival , which tied the Centaurs for second place last fall along with . Should Culver City make the playoffs, it will again compete in the Western Division playoffs.

Wright, a 1995 graduate of , guided his alma mater to a 9-2 mark in his first year in 2009. He was an offensive and defensive coordinator under previous coach , who went 74-36-3 and led the Centaurs to eight playoff appearances and five league titles in 10 seasons.

2011 CULVER CITY HIGH VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 9 -- vs. West Torrance, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 -- at Peninsula, 3 p.m.

Sept. 23 -- vs. Redondo Union, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 -- vs. Leuzinger, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 -- vs. Narbonne, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 -- vs. Morningside, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 21 -- at Inglewood, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 28 -- at Hawthorne, 7 p.m.*

Nov. 4 -- vs. Santa Monica, 7 p.m.*

Nov. 11 -- at Beverly Hills, 7 p.m.*

* Ocean League game