La Canada Blanks San Marino

By Rich Whittington

(La Canada) – The La Canada Spartans scored first, and didn’t look back, Friday evening, as the host Spartans dominated the visiting San Marino Titans, 35-0, in front of an enthusiastic, Senior Night crowd at Spartan Stadium.

As the fans came to celebrate their seniors, the team came to celebrate football. 

Senior Ivan Ostry led the way for the Spartans, rushing for 196 yards on 15 carries, scoring four touchdowns, and converting two 2-Point PAT attempts. (One on the ground, the other by connecting with fellow Senior Dezin Delgatty.) Adding to the Spartans scoring total was Senior RB Brian Staron, who scored on a 2-yard TD run late in the 4th quarter of play.

The Spartan’s also shined defensively. Senior LB Abraham Jhee intercepted a pass from San Marino QB Niko Mavridis, which ended a San Marino scoring drive, thusly preserving the shutout. Also shining on defense were LB Corey Cheung, who recorded a sack of QB Mavridis, and DE Ian Phillips, who registered a “Hat Trick”, sacking Mavridis on three separate occasions during the contest. Ostry and Delgatty also added to the team’s defensive success, knocking down potential scoring passes while generally disrupting the San Marino passing attack.

Junior K Shaina Clorfeine aptly handled the La Canada kicking game. Clorfeine, who found the football field by way of the Lady Spartans Soccer team, kept the ball away from the San Marino playmakers, thusly keeping pressure off of the Spartan defense. Additionally, Shaina converted her lone PAT attempt, scoring the Spartans 35th and final point of the evening.

Contributing to the Spartans success last evening, and all season for that matter, are a select group of men known as the Offensive Line. These are the players that open holes for the running backs, pass block, keep the QB clean, and generally ensure that none of the team’s “specialists” get bullied. Traditionally, offensive linemen only get their name in print when they do something wrong. Tonight, they get mentioned for doing right. Congratulations to LT Diego Reyes, LG Jake Adkins, C Brandon Goldsby, C Isaac Beliz, RG Maximo Mora, RT Max Russakow, and the rest of the Spartan OL crew. Without you, the offense would truly struggle.

San Marino never got on track last evening. Penalties, dropped passes, and missed blocks can explain the Titans lack of success. San Marino’s best opportunities to score would end up as a catch that was ruled out of bounds, and a missed field goal attempt, respectfully.

La Canada’s season finale is scheduled for Thursday, 4/15/21, as the Spartans travel to Monrovia to take on the Wildcats. San Marino’s final game of the year is scheduled for Friday, 4/16/21, where the Titans will host the Glendale Nitros. Kickoff for both contests is scheduled for 7:00PM.

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