High School

Live score update summary: Cole Leinart throws 3 TDs in impressive debut, Redondo beats Banning

3-star quarterback and son of Matt Leinart wastes no time making big impact as Sea Hawks knock off Banning 32-7

Mitch Stephens

Heisman-winning quarterback Matt Leinart, a member of the Fox Big Noon Kickoff crew, walks the CU sideline before the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 16, 2023 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
Heisman-winning quarterback Matt Leinart, a member of the Fox Big Noon Kickoff crew, walks the CU sideline before the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 16, 2023 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. / Cris Tiller / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cole Leinart wasted little time in his first big opportunity.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior quarterback at Redondo Union in Southern California took a double reverse pitch and fired a 57-yard touchdown pass to Cadence Turner on his team's first play from scrimmage Friday en route to his team's 32-7 win over Banning.

The son of former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart threw two more touchdown passes and had another nullified by penalty in an impressive debut for the Sea Hawks. He finished the night with 142 yards and three touchdowns on 7-of-13 passing.

The younger Leinart had to sit out the team's first four games due to transfer rules. He previously attended Newport Harbor and before that Mater Dei.

Cole Leinart can now focus on his play at one school and the Sea Hawks are happy about that. They improved to 4-1 and were in control of this one start to finish against a Banning team that dropped to 4-2.

Leinart has four college offers: Colorado, Georgia State, Pittsburg and UNLV.

Leinart's best throw came later in the first quarter when he connected with Turner again on a 17-yard touchdown on fade pattern to the left corner of the end zone.

This was the first meeting between the teams since 2010, and third overall, all won by Redondo.

BANNING AT REDONDO: At a Glance

CALIFORNIA SCORES/SCHEDULES (SEPT. 26-28)

BANNING AT REDONDO LIVE UPDATES

FOURTH QUARTER

FINAL SCORE: Redondo 32, Banning 7

TOUCHDOWN NULLIFIED: Leinart's second TD to Ausmus and fourth of the game is nullified by holding. Redondo still leadsi 32-7. Pretty pass and route.

THIRD QUARTER

END OF 3: Redondo Union 32, Banning 7.

LEINART AGAIN! Third touchdown pass of the night for Cole Leinart, who is making impressive debut for the Sea Hawks. This is 8-yarder to Bo Ausmus, who is having quite a night himself. Redondo Union 32, Banning 7. 9:30 3Q. More great video from Nick Ingram.

SECOND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN REDONDO! Redondo Union 26, Banning 7. HALFTIME

TOUCHDOWN BANNING! Noa Tuvalu 1-yard QB sneak for touchdown. Redondo 20, Banning 6. 5:50 2Q.

FIRST QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN REDONDO AGAIN! Third TD of first quarter, second touchdown pass from Cole Leinart, a beautiful 17-yarder to Cadence Turner. Redondo 20, Banning 0.

TOUCHDOWN REDONDO! Ethan Maleman 11-yard TD run after a long completion from Niko London to Bo Ausmus. Redondo 13, Banning 0.

TOUCHDOWN REDONDO! Cole Leinart doesn't take long to make impact. Completes 57-yard touchdown pass to Cadence Turner on Redondo's first play off double-reverse. Redondo Union 6, Banning 0. 10:02 1Q.

PREGAME

The Banning at Redondo Union football game had enough going for it. The two teams are a combined 7-2 on the season. The teams haven't played since 2010 and in their only two meetings, Redondo won two tight games, 21-17 and 30-21.

Friday's game has one more caveat: The debut of 3-star junior quarterback Cole Leinart, the son of former Heisman winner Matt Leinart.

The younger Leinart had to sit five weeks after transferring from Newport Harbor. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder started his prep career at Mater Dei.

Leinart has four college offers: Colorado, Georgia State, Pittsburg and UNLV.

His Redondo teammates (3-1) have played well in the early going with wins over El Dorado (32-8), Huntington Beach (21-0) and last week, 24-3 over Orange. The only defeat for the Sea Hawks was 14-13 against Mira Costa on Sept. 6.

Banning (4-1) has been involved in some barnburners, winning over Dorsey (49-22), Granada Hills Charter (53-30) and a 53-35 loss to Western.

Published |Modified
Mitch Stephens
MITCH STEPHENS

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

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