The Compton football team will take a 90-minute bus ride East for the CIF Southern Section Division 12 playoffs as the Tarbabes head to Hemet to take on Tahquitz Friday night. It will be Compton’s first appearance in the semifinals since 1979, as they seek to reach the championship game for the first time since that season as well.
The Titans (7-4) are the Mountain Pass second-place finisher and defeated Victor Valley 20-14 in double overtime last week.
Tahquitz is a team that looks to run the ball and the Tarbabes will look to control the line of scrimmage. The Titans average 25 points per game while they give up 23 points per game.
“They’re a physical style offense,” coach Calvin Bryant said. “They’re run dominant, and they want to establish a physical presence up front. So, hopefully we can meet the challenge and compete for four quarters.”
Compton knows about establishing a physical presence and that will be no different Friday night as the Tarbabes (6-5) will counter with their double-wing offense led by Deon Johnson and Erick Barrios.
Last week, Deon Johnson rushed for 128 yards, two touchdowns and had one receiving touchdown.
“I feel real good for this game,” Johnson said. “It means a lot to make it for Compton after 40 years. I feel confident about this game.”
As the top-seeded team in the bracket, Compton has reason to be confident and Bryant said last week’s victory over Walnut built on that confidence.
“We have to continue to keep our guys mentally strong,” Bryant said. “The way we’ve been playing I feel like our guys are always in the game. So now they have confidence, and we have all our guys here. So, all the guys believe and trust in one another.”
Should Compton advance to the championship, they’d host Quartz Hill or travel to Woodbridge, depending on the winner of the other semifinal.
