Washington Regroups After Los Alamitos Loss

Washington High’s football team had a bye last week, enabling the Generals to recover from their 59-6 season-opening loss to Los Alamitos on Sept. 12 and prepare for Friday’s game against Westchester.

Washington Coach Richard Mull said the game against Los Alamitos, one of the strongest teams in the Southern Section, was scheduled before he took over the program three years ago. Despite the 53-point defeat, Mull said the experience was valuable.

“It let our kids see a really good program and play in a great atmosphere against a real disciplined, well-organized team,” Mull said. “It was good for everybody--players, coaches and administrators.

“We weren’t really down [last week]. We knew it was the first game of the season with a long season to go. The kids were disappointed by it, but they’re attitude is, ‘Let’s look ahead.’ ”

Washington, a member of the perennially powerful Southern Pacific Conference, has several players back from last year’s team that handed two-time defending City Section champion San Pedro its only loss in two seasons.

The Generals are led by running back Danny Urquhart, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior.

“He’s really a linebacker and probably a fullback,” Mull said. “But he’s most valuable to us as the main running back.”

Nathan Poindexter, a junior cornerback/receiver, returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against Los Alamitos. He teams with senior wide receiver Larry Williams and 6-6 senior tight end Travon McGee to give senior quarterback Davon Jones three talented targets.

Westchester is coming off a 21-12 loss to Carson.

“This isn’t like playing Los Alamitos--these kids all know each other,” Mull said. “I think we’re ready to play.”

Mull acknowledges that it won’t get any easier for the Generals.

Washington opens conference play Oct. 2 against Narbonne, then plays Dorsey, Crenshaw, San Pedro, Carson, Wilmington Banning and Gardena.

“It’s going to be a real test,” Mull said. “In this conference, there’s no such thing as a week off.”