Spiwak Does a Lot of Everything in Redondo Win

Ask Ryan Spiwak which side of the ball he prefers and he will answer quickly.

"Defense is more fun,'' Spiwak said. ''But I do what the coaches want me to do.''

That means starting at middle linebacker and starting at tailback. It could mean preparing the team's sumptuous pre-game meal, taping his teammates' ankles and driving the team bus. However, Redondo Union football coach Gene Simon already has qualified individuals in those capacities.

But on the football field, there is little that Simon's stellar two-way junior does not do, as Long Beach Millikan can attest. Spiwak had two interceptions and 123 yards rushing on Thursday, sparking the visiting Sea Hawks to a 28-7 victory over the Rams.

"The only thing we didn't do tonight was throw him the ball,'' Simon said. ''But believe me, he can catch, too. Spiwak is one of the top players in this area and we hope that he continues to improve.''

The victory boosted Redondo Union's record to 2-1, as the Sea Hawks continued to hone their offense, defense and special teams units for what Simon expects will be a hotly-contested Bay League title chase. Redondo Union will make its 2010 home debut next Friday against Culver City.

"That will be a tough game,'' Simon said. "Every game you have to improve. Every game you have to get your stuff together.''

There remain areas that Simon and his coaching staff need to address.

Uncharacteristically, Redondo Union was flagged for an inordinate amount of penalties—10 in all, nine of which occurred in the first half. Included were two delay of game infractions, something the Sea Hawks did not encounter in their two previous games.

"The first half we spent shooting ourselves in the foot, with the penalties,'' Simon said. "But I also felt we were the victim of an official's fast watch on the delay of game penalties.''

All it did was make the Sea Hawks work harder on their two first-half touchdown drives.

The first, which covered 57 yards in nine plays, was marred by three penalties, including one for holding. Spiwak climaxed the march, with a 5-yard touchdown run. The second drive, which also took nine plays, covered 44 yards and it too ended with a 5-yard Spiwak touchdown run. Redondo Union had to overcome a pair of false-start penalties on that drive.

"The key was finally getting our heads straight,'' said Spiwak, who fumbled to thwart the Sea Hawks' promising opening possession.

"We underestimated this team at the start,'' Spiwak said. "We thought we'd be able to come out and just run all over them.''

Actually, that is what Redondo Union did do. Spiwak was joined in the 100-yard rushing club by junior Deon Williams, who carried the ball 13 times for 105 yards. Williams also caught three passes for 55 yards, including a 30-yard catch and run off a short pass from junior quarterback Nick Pope.

"It's fun blocking for them,'' senior offensive lineman John Miller said. "They both have great vision and great cutback ability. Both of them can break a big run at any time.''

Spiwak and Williams each churned out significant yards on a counter play that the Sea Hawks had running with equal success both to the right and to the left.

"We saw that the first series of downs,'' Miller said. "Coach Simon said that was going to be the play tonight.''

Defensively, Redondo Union completely stymied a Millikan offense that in its previous game ran roughshod over Lakewood Artesia, in a 46-7 walloping.

"They never do exactly what we want them to do,'' Sea Hawks defensive coordinator Tim Ammentorp said, in a post-game assessment. "But we played pretty soundly and I thought we hit very well. So, I have to be pleased. Now, we have to get better.''

Across the board, the Redondo Union first-team defense had an A-plus rating. Cornerbacks Kem Richards and Drew Wright blanketed their assigned receivers. Sophomore safety Christian Fernandez continues to shine and gain in confidence. The defensive linemen contained Millikan's running game and the linebacker corps filled their holes proficiently.

The biggest hit of the game was delivered by safety Jon Catsavas, who missed last week's game against Serra with an injured left shoulder. Catsavas tattooed Millikan receiver Mahmud Hassan on a deep sideline route in the second quarter, jarring the ball loose from Hassan's possession for an incompletion.

"That's the element. That's the good thing (Catsavas) does,'' Simon said. "He's always in position and he does his job. It's not like he goes out head hunting. But when he has an opportunity to deliver a hit, he does.''

Millikan averted a shutout with a 2-yard touchdown run by Hassan, with 4:48 remaining in the game. By that time, the Sea Hawks' first-team defensive players were cooling down on the sideline.

"It was nice getting all our friends in the game, because they work so hard during the week,'' Wright said. "Our first team defense shut down their offense all night. Our ground game was great. I know how good Spiwak is but Deon was running just as hard. What we've got there is a two-headed monster.''