HS FOOT: Bray keys Alemany comeback over W. Torrance, 17-14

By Gerry Gittelson
Staff Writer

What a clutch player Antonio Bray is turning out to be.

One week after scoring the winning two-point conversion run in a one-point victory over Chaminade of West Hills to win the Mission League title, the Alemany High of Mission Hills running back scored on a 69-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown in a 17-14 football victory over visiting West Torrance in Western Division playoff action.

Bray, a sophomore transfer from Canyon who’s been battling the flu, rushed for 105 yards on just four carries, and he added two receptions for 74 yards, as Alemany erased an 11-point, second-half deficit to win its first playoff game since 1999.

On the 69-yard run, Bray did what he does best, cutting across the field on a sweep, then using his blazing speed to race into the end zone.

“I was supposed to go right, but then I saw a hole up the middle, so I cut,” Bray said. “I feel good even though I’m sick. Tonight was my night. I love it here at Alemany.”

Alemany coach Dean Herrington wonders how good Bray can be once he’s fully acclimated.

“He’s unbelievable. I can’t wait till he’s in the program for a whole year because he’s still behind the learning curve,” Herrington said. “He’s just an unbelievable football player, and he’s a great wide receiver, too.”

West Torrance’s Tyler Krumpe was wide left on a 47-yard field with 55 seconds remaining.

Alemany (8-3) plays at defending champion Dominguez of Compton (9-2)//// (((OR… at Highland of Palmdale(6-5) )) in the quarterfinals next Friday.

“This feels good because it’s our first playoff game, and West Torrance is the defending finalist,” Herrington said. “It was a solid game, and I’m proud of our guys because it’s hard to come back from 11 points in the second half of a playoff game.”

West Torrance’s Brian Baucham rushed for 255 yards on 35 carries, including touchdowns of 1 and 69 yards. But with quarterback Ronnie Clark completing just 1 of 5 passes for 13 yards and an interception, West Torrance (7-3-1) had no choice but to continue to feed Baucham the football, and by the fourth quarter he wasn’t the same back.

“I’m tired and I’m sore,” said Baucham, who finished the season with 1,705 yards.

Bray’s 57-yard reception was the biggest play of the first half, and, again, he was creative. He caught a short pass, then faked out three defenders before being tackled at the 11. Three plays later, Patrick McKernan was sacked for an 8-yard loss, and Alemany had to settle for Kyle Strazerri’s 31-yard field goal.

In the second half, Baucham returned the kickoff 40 yards, then scored two plays later on a 33-yard run to make it 14-3.

McKernan completed 12 of 19 for 166 yards, including 8 of his final 10 passes. Leandro Quesada had three receptions for 59 yards.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

ALEMANY 17, WEST TORRANCE 14

West Torrance 0-7-7-0-14
Alemany 0-3-14-0=17
A-FG Strazerri 31
W-Baucham 1 run (Krumpe kick)
W-Baucham 69 run (Kumpe kick)
A-Marable 6 run (Strazerri kick)
A-Bray 69 yard run (Strazerri kick)
RUSHING:
A: Bray 4-105
WT: Bauchman 35-255
PASSING:
A: McKernan 12-19-166
WT: Clark 1-5-13
RECEIVING
A: Quesada 4-59
WT: Baucham 1-13
R: A 8-3; WT 7-3-1