It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish.
That will be on the Compton football team’s mind after their 20-14 loss to Dorsey Friday night to wrap up nonleague play.
“You got to give a lot of credit to Dorsey,” Compton coach Calvin Bryant said. “What they did and like I said we got a lot of work to go to get better.”
After the offense was bottled up to start the game the Tarbabes’ defense continued its dominant start to the season as they forced a punt and on the attempt freshman Jakori Clinton blocks the kick and junior Tyler Grant falls on it in the end zone for the touchdown to put Compton up 7-0 3:07 left in the first quarter.
The Tarbabes (2-2) are without sophomore Trevon Fair for a couple weeks with an injury he suffered last week. With Fair out, freshman Isaac Zazueta got the start and while the Tarbabes looked to get the passing game moving, Compton lost the ball on a fumble on their next drive.
Compton got the ball moving near the end of the first quarter as Zazueta found Ronnie Mixon for a 7-yard gain and senior Micah Hawkins got a short gain in his season debut.
Zazueta capped the drive with his first varsity touchdown to Jay’rome Norwood on a 22-yard catch to put Compton up 14-0 with 1:30 left in the first half.
After Compton’s defense forced a turnover on downs, the Tarbabes weren’t able to take advantage of the short field position and lined up for a field goal attempt. On the field goal attempt, Dorsey’s Elijah McCluster blocked it and Kentrell Holley picked it up and returned it for a touchdown to cut Tarbabes’ lead to 14-6 after a missed 2-point conversion.
The Compton offense continued to try and keep the ball moving through the air, but Zazueta didn’t have enough time as they were forced to punt. After a mishandled snap, Dorsey recovered the ball inside the red zone.
With the short field, McDaniels found Mario McWilliams for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14 with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter.
Compton’s struggles offensively continued as they were forced to punt. With the momentum fully on Dorsey’s side, the Dons drove down the field thanks to a 36-yard completion after McDaniels found Deuce Johnson.
McCluster then rumbled in from the 1-yard line to give the Dorsey their first lead with 9:13 left in the fourth.
The Tarbabes’ kept fighting as they converted three fourth downs on the next drive, but on their fourth, fourth down attempt – Ronnie Mixon connected with Troy Joyner but a Dorsey defender caused an incomplete and the Dons had the ball and were able to kneel the clock out to end the game.
Compton will be back in action next week when they host Lakewood to open Moore League play.
“We got to get ready to face them to make sure we’re successful,” Bryant said.
