GARDENA >> The matchup between Banning and Gardena on Friday had all of the makings of an old-school L.A. City Section clash, from the afternoon start down to the grass field in use at Gardena High.

The slugfest materialized early. The teams were tied at halftime and throughout the second half as both offenses either stalled out or turned the ball over.

Gardena found its offense with 1:14 remaining, Xavier Grant capping a four-play drive with a game-winning 1-yard touchdown run and the defense standing up one final time, leading the way to a 21-14 win for the Panthers (7-0, 1-0).

“We had to earn our respect tonight,” Gardena coach Monty Gilbreath said. “Our defense came up with stops and turnovers when they had to.

“Offensively, at times we were able to moved the ball seamlessly. Other times, it was kind of tough. We tried to put together a balanced attack through the air and on the ground, but that’s a good football team over there. ... It was a tough game.

“Nobody talks about us and we’re the returning Marine League champs and nobody talks about us as far as being one of the better teams in the league.

“This is my fourth year (at Gardena); I was 0-3 versus Banning. Last year, we lost by one point and I think the kids remembered that. They reminded me, we lost 27-26 on the last play of the game. The kids were feeling kind of sour about that game and they wanted a little payback so that kind of motivated them to come out and play hard.”

The score was tied at 14-14 when the Panthers caught a break. A blocked punt gave the Panthers possession on the Banning 43. Three plays later, the Panthers were at the 1 and Grant punched it in for the go-ahead score.

Banning returned the kickoff out near midfield, but on third down, David Frankling came up with a sack and a fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete.

“This win means a lot,” Frankling said. “We came out and beat them, had good stops on defense. ... Our defensive line is one of the best in the City. We saw the quarterback try to cut back from X (Xavier Grant) and I came on the outside, wrapped him and got that sack. Then Elijah Morris came up with the tip pass (on fourth down) and we sealed it.”

Banning (4-4, 0-2) had a slow start, which was probably to be expected as the team’s arrival was delayed due to a bus issue. The Pilots arrived at close to 3:30 p.m. The game, which was a 4 p.m. start, remained on schedule.

“Bus breaks down, we have to sit 45 minutes in the sun, we get to Gardena, we have to wait another 20 minutes, then we get on the field and refs say we don’t get any extra time,” Banning coach Raymond Grajeda said.

Steven Perez fumbled on the first play of the game and Gardena cashed the turnover in with a six-play scoring drive, ending with Isaiah Kim’s 15-yard touchdown pass to D’maj Longley.

Banning tied the score 7-7 on Perez’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Guzman. Then the Pilots recovered an onside kick and Perez added another touchdown, a 4-yard run for a 14-7 lead.

Right before halftime, the Panthers answered with Kim’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Williams, tying the score 14-14.

“Nobody is safe in the Marine League,” Grajeda said. “Gardena is a good team, they came out and beat us. We were the only team to beat them in league last year.”

Banning will face rival San Pedro next week at the L.A. Coliseum. Gardena will visit Carson.