COMPTON, Ca — Compton High turned a 6-6 halftime tie into a 30-6 win over Dominguez Friday night, using a dominant second-half defensive effort and better execution to take control of its Hub City League opener on Homecoming night.
The victory moved Compton to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while Dominguez fell to 3-4. What eventually became a comfortable Compton win started as a physical, emotional rivalry game in which penalties and missed opportunities kept either team from gaining much separation.
Compton struck first behind senior Edward Rivera, a running back and receiver who has been one of the Tarbabes’ most productive offensive players this season. Rivera scored the first touchdown of the night to give Compton a 6-0 lead.
Dominguez answered late in the second quarter with a quarterback sneak, but the Dons were unable to convert the point-after attempt. That sent both teams into halftime tied at 6-6 and gave Compton’s coaching staff plenty to address.
I got a chance to catch up with Compton offensive coordinator Coach Freeman at halftime, and his message was straightforward: stop making the game bigger than it needed to be.
“Just doing what we do, just not making the game bigger than what it is,” Freeman said. “Play the same football we’ve been playing all year. Just keep it simple.”
The penalties were also part of that conversation. With Homecoming, a city rivalry and the first Hub City League game all adding to the atmosphere, Freeman said some of the players were simply too fired up.
“It’s a big game, so some guys are just overzealous,” he said. “Calm down. This is a normal football game.”
Compton looked like a different team after halftime.
The defense began shutting down Dominguez’s ability to sustain drives, while the offense became more patient and productive. The Tarbabes repeatedly forced Dominguez into difficult down-and-distance situations and punts, giving the offense more opportunities to work with.
Compton also received contributions from other players. Senior Ronnie Mixon, listed as a receiver and defensive back, took carries when called upon, while sophomore Jayden Amos, No. 21, added another option out of the backfield.
Senior Jay’Rome Norwood, a linebacker and receiver, also found the end zone as Compton continued expanding its lead.
By the end of the third quarter, Compton led 14-6. From there, the Tarbabes controlled the game.
Dominguez struggled to find consistent yardage against a Compton defense that had settled into the matchup. Drives that created pressure in the first half were ending quickly in the second, and Compton continued taking advantage of the additional possessions.
The difference between the two halves was not simply the scoring. Compton played with more control.
After the game, I caught up with Coach Stanley about the intensity surrounding the matchup and what he wanted his team to establish in the league opener.
“I think just being the first game of the Hub City League, we wanted to make a statement,” Stanley said. “Coming into this year, we had a different mentality. The guys really truly bought into the program. We’re just trying to do things differently around here.”
That buy-in was especially important in a game where emotions could have easily taken over.
Stanley said having players who remain coachable and locked in is one of the most important parts of what Compton is trying to build.
“It’s very important to have guys that just buy into the program, that are focused the entire game, listen to coaches, follow the play script and just do the things that we’re teaching them and coaching them,” he said.
The message after the win was not that Compton had arrived. The coaches were already talking about what still needed to improve.
Stanley said competition during practice has helped keep the players focused, with the scout team challenging the starters and coaches making sure the intensity remains high throughout the week.
“We’re having tremendous competition,” Stanley said. “The guys are battling. We’re having the scout team play against the starters and just making sure that the competition is high, the level of intensity is high.”
That may have been the biggest takeaway from Friday night.
Compton did not play a clean first half, and the 6-6 halftime score reflected it. But instead of allowing the penalties, rivalry emotions and missed opportunities to carry into the second half, the Tarbabes adjusted.
A tie game became a 30-6 win, and Compton opened Hub City League play with the kind of second-half response its coaches have been asking for.