By Alex A. Gonzalez
Los Angeles — It was a unique event for both the South Pasadena Tigers (8-1)(3-1) and Polytechnic Panthers (1-7)(1-3) on a warm Thursday night as the two teams went head-to-head in their Rio Hondo league matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Tigers’ running back Jason Hong scored three touchdowns while gaining 138 yards on 24 carries, and wideout Richard Conti returned a punt 55 yards to help South Pasadena defeat Polytechnic 27-7, boosting their chances at a postseason run.
Playing at a neutral site such as the Coliseum was an adjustment as the teams went scoreless in the first quarter. They also committed uncharacteristic penalties in the opening frame while trading field position through the first 12 minutes of play.
The Panthers picked off Jackson Freking’s first pass on their first possession, but their offense couldn’t strike first following the turnover.
“Honestly, the first half was just embarrassing. Not putting up enough points as we should of,” said Hong after the game. “Second half, we came out, and we worked and worked and put up 27, and I think that is a real show of what we can do.”
It was not until midway through the second quarter when Hong scored the game’s first touchdown when he reached pay dirt from three yards out, breaking the scoreless half. He double-dipped on their next possession when he took the handoff and bulldozed his way for the touchdown from 12 yards out with 2:10 left in the second quarter.
Following the intermission, the Panthers started the second half with possession and were able to create a drive that took them down the field. However, Henry McDonald’s touchdown pass to Nathaniel Marko was negated due to a holding penalty. Poly could not recover from the infraction and turned the ball over on downs two plays later.
On the Panthers’ next possession, they tried to replicate what they had done on their previous drive but could not gain any yardage and were forced to punt once again. This time, South Pasadena’s special teams could cover the kick, which helped Conti return it to the house for the touchdown, extending their lead to 21-0 with 1:05 left in the third period.
“I just saw space, and I ran,” laughed Conti. “Everyone blocked for me, and our punt return was well, and I ran it to the end zone.”
Polytechnic responded with a score of their own following the Tigers’ touchdown and only needed one play. McDonald’s 67-yard touchdown hookup with TJ McElrath etched into South Pasadena’s lead with the fourth quarter left to play.
However, with another turnover on downs by the Panthers, the Tigers were able to end the night and the Polytechnic’s chances of a comeback when they piled up a 13-play drive that chewed up more than five minutes that was capped off by Hong’s third rushing score of the night.
“This man scored three touchdowns. He is a dog, getting hit every play and getting back up to do it again,” commented Conti on Hong’s performance. “I couldn’t do that. I saw him dive for the pylon, I saw him hit his head hard and twist an ankle, but he got three touchdowns. Kudos to him and our offensive line.”
With the win, South Pasadena will look to take sole possession of the second place in the Rio Hondo next week when they travel to San Marino next Friday night. Polytechnic, will look to bounce back next Thursday when they travel to La Canada.
This game must have been the warmup for the East L.A. Classic between Garfield and Roosevelt, which was played at the Coliseum on the following night. The final score in that one was Garfield 16, Roosevelt 8.
How did this game get played in the coliseum? That’s pretty cool!
The Rose Bowl would have made more sense.