MidValleySports.Com

J.P. Shohfi has been the go to guy for the Titans

Game time is 7:00 p.m. at San Marino High School

Saturday

Sierra Canyon (14-0) at San Marino (14-0)

The Trailblazers and the Titans have been prolific in lighting up the scoreboard this year. Sierra Canyon averaged just over 50 points per game while San Marino came in at just over 51. Both have been solid on defense at well giving up 14 and 11 points respectively.

On paper the match-up looks great and if the game was played a couple of weeks ago, it could have been a game for the ages. However, Sierra Canyon did not come out of their final against San Dimas as healthy as San Marino did after taking care of Charter Oak.

2000+ yard running back Bobby Cole appeared to tweak an ankle in the second quarter. Even though he finished the game it was apparent he wasn’t 100%. Our guess is he will be able to go on Saturday and they will need him as they lost their field stretcher in Eric Markes. Markes went down with a knee injury in the first half against San Dimas and his participation is doubtful.

The cupboard is not bare however for Sierra Canyon. Niko Harris is still at the helm and has thrown for over 3000 yards and 44 touchdowns. While Markes had the big plays on offense, Kohl Holinquest led the team in receptions and touchdowns and he is healthy. Holinquest will need a huge game for the Trailblazers to have a chance.

For San Marino, the offense revolves around Carson Glazer and J.P. Shohfi.The two were close to unstoppable in the Titan passing game. Glazer close to 4,000 yards passing with 45 td’s and Shohfi over 2,000 yards receiving and 28 td’s. Add in a solid 1,000+ yards and 20 td’s from Michael Chan and you can see why this team is so dangerous.

The Sierra Canyon defense led by Christian Hernandez (115 total tackles) was stout in pitching a shut-out over San Dimas. The Trailblazer defense will need the same kind of effort and then some to have a chance. Finding a way to limit Shohfi will be the order of business which so far has proven difficult.

Mark Wicke and the Titan defense was stellar against Charter Oak in the final. The final scoreboard showed 28 points allowed but 14 of those 28 were given up when the game was already decided.

Sierra Canyon head coach Jon Ellinghouse will have his team ready to play even though they are less than 100%. In most years that would be good enough in the Small-Schools Division but not this year. The attrition will be too much to overcome. San Marino head coach Mike Hobbie has the Titans firing on all cylinders and the non-stop pressure they put on opponents will be more than the Trailblazers will be able to handle.

San Marino 44  Sierra Canyon 21

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