This photo appeared under the headline "Next!" in the Mid Valley News in the fall of 2001. Featured in this pic are (from left to right); James Griffith (#12), Jeff Worthley (#14), Chris Danielsen (#2), Stephen Brown (#33), Eric Sepulveda (#35), Josh Moulton (#9), and Matt Lennig (#56)
The 2001 edition of Temple City football raced to an 11-0 record before falling to a star-studded Inglewood team in the second round of the playoffs.
Much of the play from that season has been about “The Legion of Doom”, the combination of quarterback Matt Malczynski, tailback Antonio Wagner, and wide receiver Desmond Reed, but what has been neglected is the defense.
Randy Backus’s unit only gave up 69 regular season points in ten games. In terms of points allowed it was the Rams best defensive unit since 1991 (58 regular season points) and 1981 (66-points). They pitched four shutouts blanking San Marino, South Pasadena, and Monrovia (52-0) in league.
Starring on that squad was Eric Sepulveda (currently assisting at San Marino), Chris Danielsen, Josh Moulton, James Griffith, Jeff Worthley, Stephen Brown, Nick Szamet, Zach Robbins, Christ Dattola, Matt Lennig, Nick Drazenovic, Victor Murillo, and of course Des Reed.
The all time best TC defense, again in terms of points allowed, came in 1970 when Bob Hitchcock’s first championship team went 13-0 and surrendered a mere 48-points.
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