In a game that was titled to be “The Western League Showcase,” Venice stole the show, beating host Fairfax, 49-0. With a running clock in the second half, Venice starters had removed their shoulder pads and cheered on their teammates. With one league game left against bottom dweller Westchester, the Western League title belongs to Venice, even if they were to suffer a miracle loss next week.
Big things come in small packages fits Venice punt returner / wide receiver Dajuan Parham. Parham returned two punts for touchdowns on the night and would have had three scores if it was not for a penalty. It almost looked like a video game watching Parham jump, shake and dodge the Fairfax defenders with touchdowns of 38 and 50 yards.
Fairfax had hopes of making this game competitive but the offensive line had three false starts for penalties on the first two series, and Venice already leading with a 14-0 lead with 5:28 left in first quarter. It took Fairfax over 16 minutes to get their first down of the game, but still had to punt the ball away few plays later.
Venice’s defense was doing its fair share carrying the load by pitching their fourth shutout of the season. Fairfax’s quarterback Myles Bowen was getting pressured in the pocket and on ground in the read option offense that was getting stuffed the entire game.
A balance attack was Venice’s output in the game, with four different players scoring touchdowns on the night. Venice quarterback Alexander Diamont had time to pick apart the soft cover three zone with polished seam passes. There were a few times when pressure came on Diamont in the pocket before he escaped and hurt Venice’s defense with his legs. Diamont even had the game first touchdown-a 1 yard keeper to take 6-0 lead.
Venice even used a sweep pitch pass to get a 40-yard touchdown pass reception to Lemar Stewart to pull away 28-0 with 1:29 in 1st quarter. The game was just a formality for the last three quarters.
Now it time for Venice Coach Gaskin to start getting his arguments ready for the city playoff seeding meeting next Sunday. Playing in the Western league has always been issue in getting a top seed over the Coliseum and Marine leagues. But this could be the year to win a No. 2 seed. This would allow home field advantage until the City Champions at ELAC.
Venice (7-2, 4-0) will host Westchester (2-7, 0-4), and Fairfax (4-5, 3-1) visit University (5-4, 2-2) on Nov 8th next week.
Jevone Moore a writer, photographer by trade and a coach in life at heart. Former UCLA Bruin football player during the good years, City Champs 92-95.
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