Column: Romans’ transformation leads to a clash against City Section’s titans

When Harbor City Narbonne Coach Manuel Douglas started seeking an opponent for a nonleague football game last summer, he didn’t receive a whole lot of positive responses.

“We looked everywhere,” Douglas said.

You’d think coaches would love to play the Gauchos, the No. 1 team in City Section football. Whether worried about losing big or concerned about being outmanned, there was only one taker — Los Angeles High Coach Eric Scott.

“Why not?” Scott said. “We’re not City Division I. It’s an indicator where you are. Narbonne is good. The only way you’re going to know how good you are is play the best. I wouldn’t have made the game if we were going to get blown out.”

Friday’s game at Narbonne might be more competitive than people think. Los Angeles is 4-0 and has enough size on its offensive and defensive lines to compete with the Gauchos (4-0), especially if players take the Romans lightly.

“They’re good,” Douglas said. “That’s a Division I City team. The only thing they don’t have is a lot of depth, but he didn’t use that as an excuse not to play us.”

Narbonne usually plays all Southern Section teams in its nonleague games. Los Angeles will become the first City team to play the Gauchos in a nonleague game since 2010.

It has been a rapid rise for the Romans, who in 2013 won one game and were competing in Division III. Scott, a former UCLA assistant, showed up and transformed the program seemingly overnight, winning the school’s first City title in Division III in 2014. The Romans became a Division II team last season.

Their defensive line features heavily recruited All-City player Martin Andrus, as well as 280-pound Chris Green, a transfer from Santa Ana Mater Dei, and Pierre Hayes, a 250-pound senior.

Thanks to Scott’s decision to challenge his players, they’ll get valuable experience in preparation for expected tough Coliseum League games ahead against Hawkins, Dorsey and Crenshaw.

And perhaps other coaches will take a hint that playing tough teams can be more helpful than scheduling a weak opponent.

Mr. President: Jordan Blackman isn’t just any football player at unbeaten Panorama City St. Genevieve (4-0). He’s also the student body president.

No wonder Army has offered him a scholarship. He’s a senior receiver-defensive back with a 4.67 grade-point average.

“I can see him as an officer because of his leadership,” Coach Billy Parra said.

Blackman said he learned at an early age living in Lakeview Terrace about the importance of good grades.

“Honestly, my mom has preached if I don’t have all A’s, she’s going take football away,” he said.

He’s 5 feet 10, 170 pounds and is playing most of his senior year as a 16-year-old. He has speed, intelligence and good hands.

Around campus, he always can be counted on to be friendly and answer questions.

So in a presidential year, St. Genevieve is quite pleased with its Mr. President.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @latsondheimer