Reseda Plays to Form in a Punishing Victory Over Huntington Park

Finally. After winning two games because of a kicker’s hands and an opponent’s blunder, Reseda High did what it was supposed to do when it started the City Section 2-A Division playoffs--dominate.

Behind a strong running game and an impressive defense, the Regents beat Huntington Park, 33-0, in a semifinal game Friday night at Reseda.

“It was a great team effort,” Reseda Coach Joel Schaeffer said. “Everyone who was supposed to do something did something.”

Reseda, which is bidding for its second consecutive 2-A title, will play Westchester next Saturday at East Los Angeles College. Reseda (10-0) has won 13 consecutive games, including a 10-0 victory over the Comets earlier this season.

Ronald Wilkinson was the main thrust in Reseda’s punishing running attack. An All-City back last year, he rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Wilkinson had a five-yard run at the beginning of the second quarter, then, early in the third quarter, scored on a 23-yard run through the middle of the Spartans’ defense.

“Ronald Wilkinson did his thing,” Schaeffer said.

But Wilkinson wasn’t the only Regent lighting up the scoreboard. Tight end David Wilson, a Times All-Valley linebacker, caught three touchdown passes from three different throwers. Wilson caught every Reseda completion, finishing with 77 yards on five catches.

Wilson’s first scoring catch, an 11-yard pass from quarterback Coley Kyman midway through the second quarter, gave Reseda a 14-0 lead.

Wilson scored again at the end of the third quarter. Wide receiver Sam Edwards took the second handoff on a double reverse then threw a 28-yard pass to Wilson, who ran around two defenders to give the Regents a 27-0 lead.

Wilson scored again with 3:23 left on a 28-yard pass from backup quarterback Mike Shwartzer. Wilson was also instrumental in slowing the Spartans’ offense, a unit that had averaged more than 26 points a game this season.