Gardena football Coach Marshall Jones resigns
HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK
The coach, who was at Gardena for 11 seasons, cites burnout at the conclusion of a 2-8 season in which the Panthers finished winless in the Marine League.
Saying he was "just burned out," Marshall Jones has resigned as Gardena High's football coach after 11 seasons.
"Probably about three or four weeks ago, I started thinking about it," Jones, 47, said Wednesday. "I just felt like I wasn't doing the job the way I had done it in the past."
Jones informed his players Friday after the Panthers' 35-0 loss to San Pedro concluded a 2-8 season in which Gardena finished winless in the Marine League.
The Panthers finished second twice in league play under Jones and advanced to the City Section semifinals in 2002. "We had our share of success," he said.
Jones said losing his mother to pancreatic cancer during the 2005 season took an especially heavy toll on him.
"I thought after the season I was OK," he said. "But just recovering the energy and drive it takes to be a head coach, especially in a competitive league, it didn't happen."
Jones, who will continue to teach physical education at Gardena, said he intended to take a year off before contemplating a return to coaching. "I'm going to put it in God's hands and see where it goes from here," he said. "I definitely need a break."
Boyd nearing records
With a deep playoff run, L.A. Jordan quarterback James Boyd could become the most prolific passer in City Section history.
Boyd has 8,030 yards and 70 touchdowns in his career, ranking him third on the career yardage list and fourth on the career touchdowns list, according to the Cal-Hi record book. Boyd was selected as the Eastern League most valuable player Tuesday night.
The record for passing yardage in the City is held by David Koral, who passed for 8,964 yards for Palisades in 1999-2000. Ron Cuccia of L.A. Wilson passed for 8,804 yards in 1975-77. (Perry Klein, by the way, isn't on the list. He threw for 3,899 yards as a junior but Cal-Hi doesn't list career numbers for him.)
Koral also had 100 career touchdown passes. Cuccia had 91 touchdown passes and Daniel Gonzalez of Franklin had 79 in 1998-2000.
Topping Koral's touchdown mark seems a long shot, though Boyd threw eight touchdown passes in the Bulldogs' regular-season finale against South Gate. Jordan (6-4) opens the playoffs Thursday against Fremont (6-4) at South Gate High in a Championship Division first-round game.
Sidney visits Virginia
