Football Is a Chance for Positive Feelings

Los Angeles Jordan and Verbum Dei high schools both are located in Watts, separated by only one mile -- and two notorious gangs.

Security concerns are the prime reason the schools haven’t met on a football field in 10 years -- a span that will end today at 2 p.m. in a season opener at Lawndale High.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Verbum Dei Coach Kendric Knox said.

The teams got together for dinner last week at the Watts Coffee House, an idea hatched by Elijah Asante, Jordan’s first-year coach. Players introduced themselves, shook hands and rejoiced at being part of a positive community event.

“How many teams get to break bread before the first game and then break heads?” Knox said to smiles and laughter.

But let’s not ignore the obstacles and dangers faced by teenagers in Watts, where too often violence has overshadowed real lessons in sportsmanship and camaraderie taking place on the athletic field.

“It’s pretty serious,” running back Ricky Thenarse of Jordan said. “You can’t beat around the bush. People get killed.”

Behind Verbum Dei is the territory of the Bounty Hunters, a Bloods gang. Next to Jordan is the territory of the Crips. These rival gangs have plenty to do with the chilling statistic that Watts has averaged two homicides a month since 2003, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

“Coaching in the ‘hood is something different,” Asante said. “You’re going to be a pallbearer. You’re going to be speaking at a funeral.”

Asante said one of his main goals is trying to keep his team’s standout player, Thenarse, “alive this year.”

Last spring, a cousin of Thenarse’s was shot in a drive-by.

“The kid was living and dying in his arms,” Asante said.

Thenarse, 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, is good enough to play at a top NCAA Division I-A school if he fulfills his academic requirements. Last season, he rushed for 1,234 yards. Asante is doing all he can to make sure Thenarse has the chance.

“It’s a tough road, with long odds,” Asante said. “So much focus has to be on the kids so they can thread the needle. He sees the opportunity and is trying to seize it. I’m trying to make sure he doesn’t fail. What he represents is bigger than himself. If he does it, he shows it can be done.”

Verbum Dei, an all-boys’ Catholic school, prides itself on preparing its graduates for college. The students dress in white shirts, black ties, black pants, black socks and black shoes.

“We act like gentlemen and dress like gentlemen,” one coach said.

The school attracts students from many areas, including Watts, home of the Ayers brothers, Akeem and Kevin.

The Ayerses live on 97th Street, one of the toughest areas in Watts. Kevin, a freshman running back, said he has seen 10 shootings. Akeem, a 6-3, 205-pound junior defensive end who had 18 sacks last season, said he has seen five shootings. The nonchalant way they talk about their experiences is disturbing because they seem to have accepted the threat of violence as part of everyday life.

And it is.

They and others have to make daily choices as to where to walk, where to stand, whom to visit and what to say to avoid trouble.

Last week’s dinner and today’s football game represent an attempt by adults to direct behavior in a positive direction.

“It’s good to make friends and get to know each other,” Jordan quarterback Jerry Jackson said.

Knox told players from both teams, “Let’s stay away from the violence and nonsense. Don’t succumb to peer pressure. Go to class, do what you have to do and stay out of trouble.”

There were two helmets on a stage at the dinner. Players from Verbum Dei wondered why their blue helmet was placed where Jordan players were seated. Players from Jordan wondered why their white helmet was placed where Verbum Dei players sat.

“Until you hit that field, there is no side,” explained Frank Lewis, an assistant coach at Jordan.

The good news in Watts is that many desire an end to the violence. The bad news is that a few ruin it for others.

Everyone hopes that in today’s game the teams play hard, play tough and play in peace.

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Times staff writer Doug Smith contributed to this report.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at [email protected]