Sea Hawks Quash North in Season Opener

The holes were big enough to drive an 18-wheeler through.

Redondo Union High's stalwart offensive line provided more than enough running room Friday night for running back Ryan Spiwak, setting the tone for the Sea Hawks' 2010 season with a methodical 71-yard, 14-play march on the opening possession of the game.

Spiwak had the ball in his hands on eight of those plays, including the only non-rushing play of the drive, an 11-yard screen pass from quarterback Nick Pope. Spiwak's 1-yard touchdown plunge polished off an eight-minute drive, as the visiting Sea Hawks began and ended the game successfully in a 21-7 victory over North High.

It definitely was a feel-good evening for Redondo Union, which wanted to avoid last year's 0-2 start. With the nation's 14^th-ranked team, Gardena Serra, up next on the schedule, the Sea Hawks not only wanted to get off to a positive start but store up some confidence going into next Friday's challenge.

"Next week we find out where we are,'' Sea Hawks coach Gene Simon said.

There is plenty of room for improvement, but Simon clearly was pleased with the opening performance.

"I like the way we didn't turn the ball over,'' he said. "I thought our (defensive) tackles played well. I like the way we ran the ball, with Spiwak.''

Although Spiwak accounted for the bulk of Redondo Union's yardage—93 combined rushing and receiving yards—the behind-the-scenes heroes were the lads up front that gouged gaping holes in the overmatched North defensive line. John Miller, Redondo Union's massive 300-pound, three-year starting tackle, was a pulverizing force, pile driving defenders in front of Spiwak and the other Sea Hawks' ball carriers.

"We thank them every day for the job that they do,'' Spiwak said, of his line. "I have the upmost confidence in them.''

Pope is playing this season with a protective knee brace after suffering a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in June, but eschewed surgery in lieu of regular physical therapy. But he showed no fear in scrambling on broken pass plays and running on designed keepers.

"It's more of a mental thing,'' he said, when asked about playing with the knee brace.

North did not achieve anything close to the offensive success enjoyed by its opponents, primarily because of Redondo Union's run-stuffing defense.

"Overall, our defense was suffocating,'' Simon said. "They couldn't run the ball on us.''

Redondo Union was clinging to a 14-7 lead late in the fourth quarter. But senior cornerback Drew Wright stamped the verdict with his 50-yard pick six off an errant pass thrown by North quarterback Jonathan Garcia, which gave the Sea Hawks a two-touchdown cushion.

"We were in a Cover 1 concept,'' Wright said. "The receiver didn't get off the (line) and I read the quarterback's eyes. With Ryan Spiwak (blocking) in front of me, I knew I was scoring.''

Weeks of summer practice, including those grueling two-a-day workouts, paid off in big dividends for Redondo Union.

"Practice is like putting money in the bank and now you get to cash the check,'' Wright said. "I stole that saying from Coach (Simon).''