King/Drew wins City Section Division I title over Palisades

Proving he can handle the bright lights of Los Angeles, Jahmir Torres put on a show in the City Section Division I football final Saturday night at Birmingham High.

The King/Drew senior was a human highlight film, assuredly catching the eye of college scouts by rushing for two touchdowns, catching two touchdown passes and returning a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown to lead his team to a 56-35 victory over Palisades.

“I was balling in Maryland but I wasn’t getting the looks I needed so I wanted to show I can ball on both sides of the country,” said Torres, son of coach Joe Torres. “My dad’s been trying to convince me to come here since my junior year. I’m glad I did.”

Torres, who had been living in Maryland with his mom (a three-sport high school athlete and later a Division I volleyball player at Delaware State), missed the first four games because of transfer rules but once he got on the field, he was the dynamic playmaker King/Drew needed to become a title contender.

“I told my quarterback get me the ball and my line blocks for me like I’m the president,” added Torres, who has received Division I offers from Arizona, Nevada Las Vegas and Utah State. “I wanna go wherever the best opportunity is.”

Torres rushed for 206 yards in 22 carries, scoring on runs of 35 and 45 yards, had four receptions for 63 yards, including scores of nine and 26 yards from Keenan Jackson, and returned a kickoff 89 yards to put the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles (11-3) up 42-14 in the third quarter.

Jackson threw four touchdown passes, the two to Torres and one each to Damico Martin and Jayden Mitchell. Jackson also had a one-yard sneak for a score.

Coach Torres, who started the program three years ago, led the Golden Eagles to their first City Section title and was glad his son was part of it.

“Him moving out here was a blessing in disguise and hopefully we can keep him here … USC and UCLA haven’t offered,” Joe Torres said.

Jack Thomas threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score for the fifth-seeded Dolphins (11-3), who also were seeking their first City title.

“Watching film, their opponents’ edge guys didn’t rush him, instead they tried to contain him, so we blitzed the A gap to get pressure up the middle,” Joe Torres said.

King/Drew graduates 25 players and will move to the Marine League next season, but Coach Torres is excited for the challenge.

“We have 55 kids on our JV team and I only moved eight up for the playoffs,” he said. “You always want to compete at the highest level so hopefully next time we can be in the Open Division.”