Wilson football puts Mayfair away early

BELLFLOWER >> Senior linebacker Thomas Pridy and the Long Beach Wilson High defense ended up scoring enough points in the first six minutes to win the season opener against Mayfair on Friday night at Ron Yary Stadium. Pridy’s blocked punt and interception return for a touchdown put the Bruins up early, and they cruised to a 35-6 win.

Wilson, the defending Moore League champions thanks to Long Beach Poly forfeits, entered the season as the No. 7 ranked team in the new CIF Southern Section Division 6 poll. Mayfair was No. 6 in Division 9.

“I couldn’t ask for more from (Pridy) and my defense,” Wilson head coach Mark Ziegenhagen. “Usually we’ve started slow, but not tonight.”

The Wilson defense set the tone on the opening drive by pushing Mayfair back inside its own 5-yard line. The ensuing punt was blocked by Pridy, and senior Shawn Winston fell on it in the end zone for a 6-0 lead. Two possessions later, Pridy intercepted Mayfair quarterback Steven Lopez on a throw across the middle and he returned it 40 yards for a touchdown and 13-0 Wilson lead.

“We talked all week about a fast start, but that was surreal,” Pridy said.

Wilson senior Semaj Parker, who had to sit out last year, set up the third and final Bruins score of the first half with an impressive 50-yard punt return at the begiing of the second quarter. Three plays later, Wilson quarterback Taer Frost went in untouched for the touchdown on a 2-yard naked bootleg.

After the sides traded failed fourth-down conversions late in the second quarter, Mayfair took advantage of good field position and scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Lopez to junior Kai Emmsley. Wilson took a 20-6 lead to halftime despite only ruing 17 total offensive plays from scrimmage to Mayfair’s 35 plays.

Mayfair couldn’t take advantage of a Wilson turnover early in the thrid quarter. Rushing touchdowns from Wilson senior ruing back Jacobi Hardy — a 38-yard scamper in the third quarter — and senior receiver Francisco Narez — a 24-yard end around in the fourth quarter — put the game away. Mayfair was held to 162 total offensive yards on 56 plays.

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