PATRIOTS SHOW THEY ARE READY FOR CITY JUMP TO BIG LEAD, HOLD ON FOR WIN BIRMINGHAM 38, DORSEY 25.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

Ed Croson stood in front of the Birmingham of Lake Balboa football players following last week's loss to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, the team's third loss in four games, and said: ``Now, we enter our section.''

His meaning was clear: No more losses.

The reason they played those tough Southern Section teams was so they could dominate the City Section.

The Patriots responded to that message Friday, jumping to a 25-point lead in the second quarter before holding on for a 38-25 victory over fellow City power Dorsey of Los Angeles at Birmingham High.

Dorsey was big, but the Patriots have faced bigger in Notre Dame. Dorsey was fast, but Birmingham saw faster in Long Beach Poly.

No team Birmingham plays from here out will be as good as those it already has faced.

``This was the first real game of the season,'' said Birmingham running back Milton Knox, who rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries. ``The others were to prepare us for this.''

Willie Chandler returned the opening kickoff 85 yards up the right sideline. Chandler's 42-yard touchdown reception from James Beloff put the Patriots (2-3) ahead 32-7 with four minutes to go in the second quarter. But Dorsey got two touchdowns before halftime.

``The game is over when we come over here together,'' Croson told his team after the game, ``not in the second quarter. We need to learn to play the whole game to be a championship team.''

Following a scoreless third quarter, Dorsey (2-3) got to within seven points at 32-25 on a 3-yard run by Johnathan Franklin with nine minutes to go.

The Patriots woke up with the game once again in doubt. Lavell Gunn, subbing for Knox, broke a 40-yard touchdown run up the right sideline to clinch the victory.

Knox sat out practice most of the week with a sore right ankle and was hurting on that important drive. Still, he managed rush for more than 150yards for the fourth time in five games.

In addition to losses to Long Beach Poly and Notre Dame, Birmingham lost to Crespi of Encino and beat a good Valencia team to start the season.

``That schedule helped us a lot,'' Knox said. ``The first four games were so fast. We went out there today and everything slowed down all of a sudden. We don't expect to lose a game the rest of the season.''

[e-mail]

[phone]