With the Compton Tarbabes clinging to a lead over the Millikan Rams on a crucial fourth down, Compton senior linebacker Josiah Marshall shed a blocker and found himself in an unenviable position: facing explosive Millikan playmaker Alden Darby, one-on-one in the open field.

Darby made a series of lightning jukes, but Marshall – fully healthy for the first time in several weeks – made a textbook open-field tackle and the ball went back to Compton with seven minutes to play.

“That was from a lot of film work,” Marshall said after the game.

On the very next snap, Compton running back James McConico found a hole and raced 44 yards for a touchdown to give his squad a 42-20 lead, as a high-energy Compton team that believes they are better than their record shows came out and proved just that.

The high-scoring affair that was equal parts smashmouth and track meet ended in a 42-26 Tarbabe victory, spoiling Senior Night for the Rams and catapulting Compton into the playoff discussion.

“This was the first time we’ve had the whole defense together all year,” said Marshall. Compton has been decimated by injures to their starting quarterback, a slew of defenders and their entire stable of heavily-used running backs.

“That’s our biggest problem,” said Compton head coach Calvin Bryant. “It’s just great to have so many players healthy tonight when previously they weren’t.”

McConico, among the most talented tailbacks in southern California, is one of those previously-injured players that Bryant is glad to welcome back. With a six-inch gash along his forearm now healed, McConico rushed 23 times for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

Yes, the Compton offense is back.

The strong showing on both sides of the ball allows the Tarbabes to picture playoff possibilities, and look forward to next week’s showdown against Poly.

“Hopefully we can take this win and play well against the defending Moore League champs,” said Bryant. “When we are physical, we definitely have an advantage. Poly is physical too, so it’s going to come down to that.”

It’s not that Millikan didn’t put up a fight. The Rams quickly fell behind, 14-0, but Darby led a strong drive down the field and punched in a three-yard touchdown run. The following kickoff was accidentally pooched, to the point that Millikan actually recovered it as an impromptu onside kick. The next strike was quick, as the Rams tied the game up at 14 when tailback Silver Vaifanua took a reverse hand-off 48 yards to the house.

All of a sudden, Compton’s 14-point lead had disappeared.

“Things were looking pretty good,” said Millikan head coach Kirk Diego. “Then we had to try to stop them.”

That part didn’t work out so well.

McConico found a seam and hit the Turbo button for a 53-yard touchdown, giving Compton a 21-14 lead heading into the half.

“We either make a big play or just make a blunder,” said Diego.

Compton cornerback Bryant Hayes was a consistent recipient of said blunders.

The senior intercepted Darby three times, including a leaping grab with intended receiver Derek Mireles all over his back. The two wrestled each other to the ground, but Hayes ended up with the ball on his own one-yard line. It may have seemed as though Compton’s back was against the wall, but the fearsome rushing attack found their way out of a third-and-long and marched 99 yards for a touchdown from sophomore Roger Jones.

Jones ran for 82 yards on that drive, and finished with 122 yards on just seven carries.

Yes, the Compton offense is back.

But the defense is better than ever – led on Friday night by Marshall and Hayes, who snatched a bobbled pass from the air and returned his final interception for a 50-yard touchdown and a 35-20 lead.

On the ensuing Millikan drive, Marshall sacked Darby on that crucial fourth down, and McConico sealed the deal.

“We just had to play controlled and not give up big plays,” said Hayes, which was likely carefully-worded code for, “We had to contain Alden Darby.”

Darby, a strong candidate for Moore League Player of the Year, still used his trademark cutbacks and blazing speed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, but threw just 86 yards for those three interceptions and a late touchdown.

“That Darby is a special player,” said Bryant. “He’s slippery.”

Millikan could have clinched a playoff spot by beating Compton, but instead will likely sneak into the postseason as the Moore League’s fourth-best team regardless of next week’s outcomes. The Rams have next week off.

The Tarbabes, on the other hand, control their own destiny when they host Poly next week. They’ll need another strong, concentrated effort on both sides of the ball. But with a healthy defense and at least half of their running backs at full speed, the Tarbabes might just be the surprise of the Moore League season.

Yes, Compton is back.