Farmer, Lee are formidable opponents

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. - Someone in the stands said George Farmer and Marqise Lee should share the nickname "Shock & Awe" because every time either touches the ball something bad happens to the opposition.

It's not that outlandish of a nickname especially since Farmer and Lee both had dominant performances in Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra's 34-7 season-opening victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame Friday night.

Farmer, a five-star wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist, had a 72-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown and also returned a punt 52 yards for a score. Lee, a four-star wide receiver and defensive back, had touchdown catches of 77 and 64 yards, both in the second half.

Farmer and Lee shock and awe and have proven to be a deadly tandem for Serra much like Farmer and five-star Robert Woods, a freshman at USC, were last season.

"It's just like me and Robert Woods last year," Farmer said. "Marqise stepped up this year, he became a big part of this team and he's catching every pass. He's doing his thing and so it hasn't changed. We just have to keep going hard in practice."

Rated as the fifth-best athlete in the 2011 class by Rivals.com, Lee didn't make many plays in the first half especially on offense and said he was generally disappointed with how he played.

Then he was determined to make things happen after halftime and he did in a big way. Two long touchdowns, both coming off short passes where he ran past defenders, and he also made multiple big hits at defensive back. For a player who's just 6 feet 1 and 187 pounds, Lee hits with a lot of ferocity.

"I felt I didn't play well in the first half so I had to pick it up in the fourth quarter," Lee said. "I just wanted to run past them, I wasn't trying to do anything special. I was just working hard and trying to do what I could do.

"In the first half, my man-to-man defense wasn't good, I knew I had to pick it up, coach was yelling at me so I had to satisfy him so I picked it up in the third and fourth quarter."

Coach Scott Altenberg said: "The thing that people don't know about Marqise is that he's physical. He's a physical kid. When you see that, he's big, he's not a skinny guy. He can run and hit you. He knocked a couple guys out. That's what he's about. He's physical, he's fast, he's quick and he's athletic. What are you going to do?"

Recruiting is going well for both Serra players. Farmer said this summer at the NIKE 7on Tournament in Beaverton, Ore., that USC, Oregon, Florida, Miami and Alabama rounded out his top five. Sources say the Trojans are way out in front for his services.

According to Lee on Friday night, USC had not been recruiting him all that much but another source said the Trojans have reignited their interest in him and could have him on campus for an unofficial visit soon.

Farmer and Lee have both said in the past that they want to play together in college and Lee said that idea "is still in play." Miami is one of Lee's favorites if he wants to leave California and USC is definitely of interest especially if it offers.

Lee and Farmer have great potential. A college career together could become something special as well. First, though, is Redondo Beach (Calif.) Redondo Union this weekend. Then many other opponents before college can be considered.

"We're not going to take any plays off," Farmer said. "We're going to keep working hard."

There are still many people in the stands for Farmer and Lee to shock and awe.