MidValleySports.Com

By Alex A. Gonzalez

San Marino — When the South Pasadena Tigers play cross-town rival San Marino, it is more than a Rio Hondo league game. No, it is more than just that; the coveted Crowley Cup is at stake when the two teams play. A cup that has been exchanged for the last 70 years. 

This year, the Tigers took care of business Friday night at San Marino High School by using their running back duo of Trey Freking and David Ortega, who combined for 253 yards rushing on 44 carries and two touchdowns in their 24-17 win, reclaiming the Crowley Cup since the 2021-22 season. 

“You know, the last two years, I wasn’t necessarily on the field, but both of those losses were demoralizing, and that motivated us to get better every year,” said Freking after the game. “I haven’t lost to San Marino in my career, and I’m trying to keep that streak going.” 

The game plan for the Tigers’ offense was simple: hand the ball off to Freking and Ortega and let them ground and pound their way to the end zone. And that’s what the two did on their opening drive to start the contest. 

On the 11-play 80-yard drive, only one pass play was called, and the rest were handoffs to the Senior and Junior running backs. With an average of seven yards per carry, South Pasadena marched its way down the field for the first score of the night, which was capped off by Ortega, who took it into the end zone from 12 yards out. 

“Our game plan was to pound the rock. I had a wonderful offensive line opening holes for me and good fullbacks, and I just had to do what I had to do,” commented Freking 

After the score, however, both teams’ offenses were slowed down by the opposition, as they exchanged punts for the remainder of the first quarter and most of the second. 

It was not until the 2:56 mark in the second quarter when South Pas kicker Lorcan Swift booted a 24-yard field goal that put his team up ten before the half-time whistle. 

The Titans’ offense woke up at that point and was able to construct a drive that would lead them to their first points of the night. Quarterback Brady Beck led the way for San Marino as he was able to complete his passes to JJ Wilson, Chase Mena, and Parker Wilson. 

Beck completed 50 percent of his passes for 40 yards on the drive, which helped set up Nick Acuna to convert his 29-yard field goal with less than a minute to play. 

San Marino then tied the ball game up at 10 when Mena picked off Andrew Nott’s pass and returned it for the touchdown with four ticks of the clock remaining in the first half. 

The Tigers returned to the ground game in the second half, calling only one pass attempt for the remaining 24 minutes of play. 

Freking broke the 10-10 tie midway through the third quarter when he took the handoff to the right, made one cut to the left, and bolted for the end zone untouched for the 21-yard score. 

Then, after forcing San Marino to turn the ball over on downs on their ensuing possession, South Pasadena extended the lead to 14 when the Tigers executed a fake reverse punt to Jordan Rodgers, who took it for the touchdown with 2:07 left in the third quarter. 

The Titans came within a touchdown with 5:04 remaining in regulation when Beck moved the defense with his eyes only to find a wide-open Wilson who took it 62 yards to the house. 

However, that was the closest the Titans got because Freking and Ortega took turns chewing up the clock on the Tigers’ next drive. Freking’s 17-yard carry on a third and long put the nail in the coffin with 2:58 left in the game, sealing the win for the Tigers. 

“I had hopes because one of their best players, (Mitch) Mooney, versus one of our best players, Dowd, came up with the victory on that block, allowing me to get behind him and plow through for the first down and essentially ice the game,” said Freking when recalling the third and long play. 

With the win, South Pasadena takes back the Crowley trophy for the second time in 10 years. Also, in the last five of six years, the games between the two have been decided by three points or less. 

The Tigers will look to keep their league title hopes alive next week when they host Monrovia next Thursday night. San Marino will look to bounce back next Friday at La Canada.