Kingston Tisdell scores game-winning touchdown to lead Inglewood in win over Leuzinger

TORRANCE Kingston Tisdell isnt going to shy away from making a big play.

Tisdell accomplished many of them last season as a member of the Birmingham football team, leading the way to the City Section title and the CIF State championship game.

Friday, in the late stages of the Bay League opener against Leuzinger, Tisdell, now a member of the Inglewood football program went into his bag of big plays.

Facing a third-and-2 on the Leuzinger 7, Tisdell rolled to his left, hit a pump fake and eventually went into the end zone for the proved to be the game-winning touchdown.

After Venilate Wolfgramm converted the two-point conversion and the Inglewood defense forced four consecutive incomplete passes, the Daily Breezes third-ranked Sentinels (6-0, 1-0) escaped with a 34-29 thrilling win at El Camino College.

We had called Hot, throw it to the back because were getting pressure ...I saw the guy get out, I saw open space, so I took it, Tisdell said.

Pumped him because he came up and I got into the end zone.

When you have to make a play, Im not afraid to do that.

The Olympians, who were the top-ranked team in the Daily Breeze, trailed 20-0, but found their footing and momentum in the second half, rallying to take a 29-26 lead.

On the first possession of the second half, the Olympians struck with a 38-yard pass from Russell Sekona to Journee Tonga to make it 20-14.

Trailing 26-14 in the fourth quarter, Leuzinger responded with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Sekona to Tonga on fourth down.

On the next possession, Tonga scored on a two-yard run and followed with the successful two-point conversion to give Leuzinger its first lead at 29-26 with 7:37 left.

We knew it wasnt going to be an easy game, Wolfgramm said.

We cam out here knowing that we had to finish the game.

On what ended up being the game-winning drive, Inglewood started on its own 25.

Tisdell connected twice with Ray Gilbert and then found Andre Nickerson out of the slot for a big 30-yard gain down to the 15.

Three plays later, Tisdell found his way into the end zone.

Ill say that Im a guy with poise, Im a guy whos very calm so in those situations, Ive been there before, Tisdell said.

My sophomore year, obviously last year going the city and (CIF) state championships, so these big moments are something that I live for, just making those plays are something thats regular to me.

Inglewood and Leuzinger battled for the league title for the last couple of years in the Ocean League, but this year theyve been moved to the Bay League.

That was resilience, Inglewood coach Milvon James said.

Thats that late hours in practice when youre tired, plays you work on in the end and it proved to be successful for us in the end.

Im proud of the way my boys competed.

Thats why a week 6 game is not a championship game, we still have room to grow.

Thats a good team, they played well.

Good job rallying, but Im proud of my guys for being resilient and finishing.

Big plays were the answer for Inglewood in the first half.

Tisdell connected with Andre Nickerson for a 50-yard touchdown on the third-play of the game.

Later in the opening quarter, Tisdell found Nickerson for what would turn into a 68-yard score for a 13-0 lead.

The Sentinels stretched their lead to 20-0 with Wolfgramms 3-yard touchdown, but Leuzingers Pakipole Moala took the ensuing kickoff 80-yards for a touchdown to give the Olympians some life.Inglewood would take the 20-7 lead into halftime.

The Sentinels had won the last four meetings, when both teams were in the Ocean League.

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