By Tim Peterson
(Montebello) – The South jumped out to a 38-0 lead and never looked back in a 45-13 dismantling of the North Friday night in the Southern California North-South All-Star game at Schurr High School.
The tone was set right away when the North fumbled on its first possession and Fullerton’s Aiden Zavala fell on it to put the South in business at the North 15-yard line. Three plays later La Habra’s Brandon Giron scooted into the endzone from three yards out for a 7-0 lead.
The North fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the South set up shop again in North territory at the 23. From the 15-yard line Marques Guzman from Tustin hauled in a touchdown strike from La Habra’s Aiden Pacillas and less than three minutes into the game it was 14-0 South.
Later in the first quarter La Serna’s Christian Miranda split the uprights from 34 yards out to make it 17-0. The South had one more shot to deliver before the quarter ran out.
Taking over at its own 34, the South needed just five plays to find paydirt. Pacillas hit fellow La Habra teammate Bryce Whitley in stride for a 34-yard score. Miranda added the extra point and with 1:23 left in the first quarter it was 24-0.
The South picked up right where it left off on the second quarter. While the North continued to struggle offensively the South was still feeling the Friday night groove. Cal’s Daniel Torres replaced Pacillas at quarterback and let his legs do the work. After scrambling for 17 yards he pulled it down again, escaped the pocket and outran the North defense for a 39-yard touchdown with 7:37 left in the second quarter.
On the next series for the North Downey’s Jordan Arias picked off an Alex Mustain pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. There were still over six minutes left in the first half and the South was up 38-0. Although the fat lady was not yet singing she was on the way to the stadium after picking up a large pizza down the street at Rios.
The North finally got off the floor with 31 seconds left in the half when Isaiah Johnson from Ayala gathered in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mustain.
The second half featured a running clock with the winner already having been decided. The only thing that wasn’t settled was the over/under on how many turnovers the North would produce on the night. With two more interceptions in the second half combined with the two picks and two fumbles on the first half, the North was competing with the bakery section at Vons.
The South made it 45-7 when Torres went to the air and found Dante Sams of Downey for a 52-yard score early in the third quarter.
The North had one last gasp when Mustain (Rio Hondo Prep) connected with a wide-open Robert Rodriguez (West Covina) for 22-yard touchdown for the final tally of the night.
The South was dominant offensively as well as the defensive side of the ball. Downey’s Manual Albidrez had a big night for the South defensively with an interception and a fumble recovery to go along with his Downey compadre Arias who had the pick six.
In all facets of the game it was a south side slam.
MVP
South:
Offense – Daniel Torres
Defense- Jordan Arias
North:
Offense – Rob Rodriguez
Defense- Daniel Carrillo
Nate Turner just doesn’t seem to have what it takes to coach a successful football team.
La Serna’s athletes weren’t even there at the game – literally one player was playing lol
How was the crowd? There didn’t seem to be much fanfare for this game as there is in the past. I don’t even think Robledo covered it.
I never saw a complete roster sheet , but with athletes from La Serna and La Habra on one side of the field, I don’t think the teams were split evenly , Great story about the South Hills kid , did you get video of it ?
San Marino’s Nate Turner team looked out coached early on. The opposing coaches appeared to make quicker adjustments and capitalized on 3 straight turnovers. He also kept the same 11 staters on O and D for almost the entire game. Why was #0 targeted so often? Feel sorry for the seniors who stood in the sidelines for nearly the length of the game. All those practices for nothing. I guess that’s why the kid from South Hills walked off the field, climbed the fence and headed home. I’ve never seen that happen during a game. That’s a long walk, poor kid. Also, It was very strange not to see one San Marino player on squad. They had some good senior football players. I guess they weren’t good enough. Maybe next year will be more competitive.