Sea Hawks Football Faces McDaniel, North in Opener

Redondo Union football coach Gene Simon expects an intense encounter when his Sea Hawks host North Torrance in a 7 p.m. nonleague contest Friday.

"North is going to bring some competition and play their hearts out," Simon said. "We’re expecting a battle."

Redondo’s defense also will be in for a battle with North running back Ryan McDaniel, considered one of top runners in Southern California.

"You’ve got 11 guys on defense and those 11 guys have assignments," Simon said. "If every guy does his assignment, theoretically, there is a wall on every play. But this kid can run through walls. Eventually, you hope he gets tired if we’re where we need to be all the time.

"We’re thinking that just slowly we’re going to wear him down. That’s what we’re hoping on defense. Offensively, we’re hoping we move the ball and keep the ball away from their offense and not give them a lot of opportunities."

That will be a challenge—the Sea Hawks return only three starters on offense, with one of their key performers, running back-linebacker Ryan Spiwak, nursing a sore hamstring.

"He’s going to try it on defense, but we can’t play him on offense yet," Simon said.

But that doesn’t hurt the Sea Hawks too much if seniors Deon Williams, Brandon Kim and Eric Brown are able to spring some runs. Williams, at 5-10 and 212 pounds, will be the featured runner.

"He’s the guy we will rely on most," Simon said. "He’s exciting. That kid wants the ball."

The player who will handle the rock most is sophomore quarterback Harrison Faecher, who will be starting his first varsity game. Faecher, 5-11, 165 pounds, is stepping in this season after former Redondo quarterback Nickolas Johnson Pope transferred to Long Beach Poly.

"He’s good. He’s a sophomore, but we think we’ve got the best sophomore in the CIF," Simon said.

An experienced defense though is what the Sea Hawks will rely upon most.

"I like our defense," Simon said. "Our linebackers are solid, our D-line is coming along and our secondary is experienced. That’s the strength of our team."

Spiwak, lineman Sam Ben-Amor, linebacker Zack Zent and safeties Londone Hawkins and Christian Fernandez and Brown, who will play some corner, are among the standouts on defense.

"Those guys have to lead the way," Simon said.

Hawkins said that the Sea Hawks will start leading the way in the opener.

"I got all the jitters out during the Narbonne scrimmage last week," said Hawkins, a 6-0, 160-pound senior. "I feel confident and the whole team is confident. We’re looking to come out and get a ‘W.’ We’re in it to win it."