Malczynski Leads Temple City to Brink of League Title 

(Jim Rush came in and shared this story with us ten years ago tonight. The excitement of the game can be felt in Rush’s pen and his syrupy story…Yet, what a fun read and what a great Temple City football team to write about. How do you think this team would fair in the 2011 Mid-Valley Division?)

By Jim Rush

(La Canada)- In the first half of this showdown for first place the Spartans had the Rams on the ropes but couldn’t take them down.

Temple City’s legs were wobbling, their noses were bleeding, but they stayed on its feet long enough to recover and knock off the defending Rio Hondo League champions 34-27 on Friday night.

The Rams found themselves down 14-0 and 27-12 in the first half before rebounding with a touchdown at the end of the second quarter and an earful from Head Coach Mike Mooney in the locker room.

“I told them they played their worst half ever and La Canada couldn’t deliver the knockout punch. I told them they needed to calm down, play their game, and play with integrity.”

The second half opened with more of the same. The Spartans burned most of the third quarter marching down the field to the Temple City one where they set up shop on a first and goal.

Here the Rams defense made a stand as heroic as any in the storied history of the program. La Canada had a chance to ice it. They had a chance to end the threat, shut down the fight…but it was the Rams defense that made all the plays.

On first and goal Spartan fullback Tony Naples was stopped for a one yard loss. Then Patrick Perrigue was hit and dropped at the three. On third and goal Eric Young threw incomplete into the end zone.

Leading 27-20 the logical choice here was to kick the field goal and take a 10-point lead. Instead La Canada Head Coach Rich Wheeler went against the percentages, went against the home crowd, and even the philosophy that has lifted Spartan football out of its perpetual mediocrity.

Wheeler went with his gut and for six on fourth down. Again, Eric Young’s pass fell incomplete and the Temple City crowd went crazy.

“There are seven principles that I teach on defense,” said Temple City defensive coordinator Randy Backus. “Two of them were right there; integrity and never giving up.”

Temple City got the ball back at its own three with 1:15 to play in the third quarter. Seven plays later, after driving out of the shadows, Josh Moulton’s punt pinned the Spartans down at their own four.

La Canada moved the ball but had their drive snuffed out when Eric Young fumbled and Ram linebacker Matt Lennig recovered at the Spartan 40 with 5:59 to play.

The Rams quickly took advantage. Malczynski went looking for Desmond Reed, who climbed the ladder, caught the ball, and booked his way for a 28-yard gain.

Four plays later Malczynski sneaked across from a yard out and with the extra-point the game was tied.

La Canada wasn’t finished getting possession at their own 27 after the kick-off, Eric Young connected with Garrett Sharp for a 27-yard gain that took the ball to the Temple City 41.

Inside of Ram territory with less than three minutes to play, Wheeler again moved away from his chief dance partner, the run, and kept throwing the ball. Four plays, four incompletions later Temple City had the ball.

Following a penalty, the Rams were backed up to the 33. Here Malczynski dropped back and looked to wide receiver Zak Brannon running up the sideline on a timing route. The perfect toss sailed for 20-yards into Brannon’s arms.

The junior flanker did the rest and took it all the way for the score, the victory, history, bragging rights, and the tradition that Temple City clings to like a dear relative gone too long, and never willing to let go.

The Rams had a host of stars. The defense shutout La Canada in the second half and made all of the big plays at the right time. Stephen Brown rushed for 14 yards on five carries, scoring a touchdown, and seemingly picking up very key yard needed. And of course there was Malczynski.

The senior quarterback did his usual; 269 yards passing, three touchdown passes to three different receivers (Karam Badawi, Reed, Brannon) and tough play, but it was in the second half where he crossed the line and became the local legend all players aspire to be when they put on the hometown colors. He raised the crowd to its feet by exhorting them from the sidelines to cheer for the Rams defense.

When the gun sounded the emotions spilled over as players and fans cried and hugged one another because of all that was spent during the four quarters.

The victory, while harkening memories of earlier days at Temple City when championships were as common as camellias, brings this current team to the edge of history and a chance to win the school’s first league title since 1991.