Crespi Cruises to Victory, 36-19

Randle Harris scored five first-half touchdowns and Encino Crespi’s defense held Playa del Rey St. Bernard to eight first downs as the host Celts defeated the Vikings, 36-19, in a Del Rey League game Friday night.

Harris rushed 18 times for 121 yards and four touchdowns and caught a nine-yard scoring pass from Kevin Vollmer.

The victory moves Crespi (6-1, 2-0) into first place, a half-game in front of defending league champion Gardena Serra, which plays tonight and will face the Celts next week.

St. Bernard (5-2, 1-1) scored first on an 80-yard pass play from Kennedy Offoegbu to Jared Billups, but Crespi answered by scoring on five of its seven first-half possessions. The two non-scoring possessions were turnovers in St. Bernard territory.

St. Bernard closed to within 22-13 after an 80-yard touchdown run by Marcus Crockett in the second quarter, but Harris had scoring runs of two and five yards before the half that gave Crespi a 36-13 lead.

St. Bernard held Crespi to 27 second-half yards and Harris had only 28 yards after intermission, but the Vikings were unable to capitalize. Trailing, 36-19, the Vikings saw an Offoegbu pass fall incomplete on fourth down from the Crespi six-yard line with 7:03 to play.

The Celts took over and gained four first downs to use up the rest of the clock.