Sentinels open D-2 playoffs at El Camino College
By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
Inglewood High School will take another undefeated regular record (10-0) into post season for the third time in four seasons under head coach Mil’Von James with aspirations of capturing that elusive CIF-Southern Section Championship.
The chase for the talented Sentinels will begin as a No. 3 seed in Division-2 against Apple Valley (8-2) on Nov. 4 at El Camino College at 7p.m.
In 2019, James just missed the D-13 title game losing in the final seconds 42-41 at Esperanza that closed the door on an otherwise brilliant 12-1 campaign.
The following year 2020 was cut short after four games because of the COVID pandemic, but the Sentinels had won all of them in impressive fashion.
Last year, the Sentinels introduced themselves to D-2, a division just below some of best teams in the nation and accounted well before being humiliated 56-30 at Coleman Field by Alemany in the quarter finals, finishing the season 11-1.
Their record of 48-3 over the course of four years is off the charts and will likely keep them in the upper echelon of competition for years to come.
OOPS THERE HE IS—Inglewood’s 5’7 junior running back Josh Russell leads these Monarch defenders mystified with his dazzling speed and power in the rout of Morningside, 45-0 at El Camino. (Nick Koza/Photo) 
LET’S GO—Inglewood junior quarterback Hasan Longstreet leads the Sentinels on to the field at Murdock Stadium against Morningside Oct. 28 and will pilot the Sentinels as the No. 3 seed in CIF-Southern Section D-2 playoffs on Nov. 4 at El Camino against Apple Valley at 7p.m. (Nick Koza/Photo)
However, this version of the Sentinels is arguably its best in that the team possess power, speed and depth.
Led by massive 6’5, 250 TE/Linebacker Jamari Johnson who is already committed to Louisville, the Sentinels have the ability to stop anyone, and with electric players such as running backs Dane Reed, Caleb Harper and the dynamic Josh Russell it can put the ball in the end zone in a myriad of ways.
Sophomore quarterback Husan Longstreet is already on the radar of power conference schools and has demonstrated his ability to complete every pass on the football field.
The receiving corps are versatile and dangerous with the athletic Bryce Parker, Johnell Gray and Darrien Grant, the Sentinels also have a solid offensive line in front of Longstreet, and a defense that recorded 6 shutouts and allowed 58 points all the season, but 34 came in one game and 18 in another.
However, their opponent in Apple Valley is a big, strong physical team that plays a tough and rugged style of football. Their two defeats came at the hands of Rancho Cucamonga in their second game and undefeated Oak Hills on Oct. 21, 41-27, both teams are in this loaded D-2 bracket.
Gardena Serra is the No 1. Seed and Chaminade is the No. 2 seed, but perhaps the most feared teams are Inglewood and Sierra Canyon.
Inglewood would meet the winner of Oaks Christian and Rancho Cucamonga in the second round, a possible Chaminade match-up looms in the semi-finals, and if all goes according to plan for Serra a glorious regional championship game.
Serra will have to escape Norco in round one and then the winner of Sierra Canyon and Warren in round two.
With each growing year, James does his absolute best to give Inglewood a chance at a championship.
After finishing their regular season with a 45-0 running clock victory over neighboring rival Morningside, the real season starts now.
