SAMOHI — Despite not winning the Ocean League, Santa Monica football has drawn a home playoff game in the first round.
Samohi finished the season strong on Friday with a 42-0 win at Hawthorne. With the victory, Samohi finishes the regular season 6-4 overall and 4-1 in league with the only blemish coming against rival Culver City.
Samohi now prepares to take on Channel Islands in CIF-Southern Section Western Division play for the second time in three seasons. The two teams met in 2011 in the first round with Samohi coming out victorious, 28-20. Samohi advanced to the semifinals that season where the Vikings lost to Culver City.
"We're the premiere four-loss team in the division," Samohi head coach Travis Clark said. "That's encouraging."
On the surface, a 6-4 record is less than stellar, but three of those losses came to the likes of Mater Dei, Hart and Valencia. All three are considered some of the best programs in Southern California.
Friday's win at Hawthorne signaled a bit of a change for Samohi. After being reduced to nearly all running plays the previous two games because of uncertainty at quarterback, the Vikings reawakened their passing game on the strength of three touchdown strikes by senior Jordan Detamore.
It's unsure if that trend will continue, but a diverse offense will go along way toward the Vikings advancing past the first round of the playoffs for the third year straight.
While Samohi's offense is still a bit in flux, the defense has been dominant.
Of the previous 10 league games, six have been shutouts including Friday's game at Hawthorne.
Clark attributes much of that success to a stout defensive line that has dominated opponents all season.
"Those guys are the best unit on this football team," Clark said. "We've been a very physical team all season. I'm proud of that."
Samohi is one of three Ocean League teams in the postseason. Culver City drew a home game against St. Francis and Morningside will travel to Chaminade, the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Serra holds the No. 1 seed and is the defending champion of the division.
Samohi's first round game is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Santa Monica College's Corsair Field.
daniela@www.smdp.com
