MidValleySports.Com

By Alex A. Gonzalez

La Canada —Heading into Friday night’s match-up at La Canada High School, the Spartans were looking to become the second team in the Rio Hondo to go into league play undefeated. And thanks to Jayden Clorfeine booting a 28-yard field goal with 1:09 remaining in regulation, they defeated Village Christian 17-7, keeping their season perfect at 5-0. 

Joe Bell led the way by completing 8-11 passing for 110 yards and one touchdown while adding 76 yards rushing and one rushing score. Dash Paper also tallied 88 yards rushing on 22 carries. 

“Honestly, it feels great. Got to give all credit to the O-line and fullbacks,” commented Bell after the game. “Those are the best I’ve seen at La Canada. They work so hard all year, and they bully the ball every drive and every play.” 

Starting at their own 13-yard line, La Canada controlled the line of scrimmage and time of possession in the first quarter by compiling a 22-play drive that consumed the entire opening period except for 35 seconds. With a healthy balance of both Bell and Paper carrying the rock for a combined 16 carries, Bell was the one responsible for capping the drive off with his 1-yard TD run on fourth down. 

Village Christian then attempted to replicate what their opponent had done on their first drive by methodically moving down the field. Nathan Remeny, who threw for 123 yards on 11-19 passing, was able to get the offense down to the Spartan 26, but on fourth down, Remeny’s pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter. 

The turnover on downs didn’t hurt the Crusaders because on the very next play, Brandon Mohaghegh hauled in Remeny’s pass and then fumbled the ball away back to Village Christian at the 17-yard line. 

Four plays after the fumble, Remeny dropped back to pass from the Spartan six-yard line and connected with Preston Mathis on the slant route for the touchdown, tying the ball game up at 7 with 4:07 before the intermission. 

Each team only possessed the ball once after the score as they headed into the break tied at seven. But then, after another turnover on downs by Village Christian to start the third quarter, Bell faked the hand off to Paper and launched a 47-yard pass to Mohaghegh, who took it the rest of the way for the touchdown. 

Both defenses were able to punch back against their opposition, forcing punts and turnovers on downs throughout the remaining 18 minutes of play. 

Then, with 1:09 remaining in the fourth, and the ball placed at the 11-yard line, Clorfeine lined up for the kick and split the uprights. 

“To be honest, I didn’t see the ball go through the goal post,” said Clorfeine postgame. “I got hit, and I was on the floor. It’s a great team effort by the offense, the defense, and special teams. We’re just all one big unit, and the culture here is unbelievable.” 

With the win, La Canada remains undefeated and will start league play next Friday when it hosts Temple City. For Village Christian, they will begin Ironwood league play next Friday when they host Heritage Christian. 

La Canada Starting O-Line 

LT: 58 Sam Chai 

LG: 77 Harvey Wake

C: 73 Caythan Kim 

RG: 70 Ethan Wong 

RT: 71 Jacob Kim 

Village Christian Starting O-Line 

LT: 71 Noah Vartanian 

LG: 70 Aaro Salo 

C: 72 Captain Alexander 

RG: 51 Phillipe Cafagna 

RT: 50 Jesus Partida