Bednarski might be the best quarterback in the Rio Hondo. Photo by Anne Cypress
(Glendale) – South Pasadena avenged last year’s loss to Hoover with a 31-25 win at Moyse Field.
The Tigers avoided an upset with 7:48 remaining in the third quarter as Patrick Martin scored from 8-yards out to make the score 24-19. Martin would finish with three touchdowns on the night.
“We had to scramble to get a win tonight,” said South Pasadena head coach Ed Smith. “We have to get better or else we will be on the other side of win next time.”
Conor Bednarski was nearly flawless throwing 12 of 14 for 171 yards. Bednarski ran for 44 yards on three carries and scored a touchdown.
The South Pasadena offense fired on all cylinders with Bednarski able to hit five different targets on the night. Telanto Henry led all Tiger receivers with three catches for 71 yards.
Defensively, South Pasadena left something to be desired as the Tornadoes carved them up for 388 total yards on the night. The Tigers defense did make a game changing stand late in the third quarter as Hoover was driving deep inside the red zone and down by five points. Tornadoes quarterback A.J. Pule was unable to convert on third and fourth down and Hoover had to turn it over on downs.
Providing much of the offense for the Tornadoes, Pule rushed for 82 yards on the ground and threw for 197 yards. Pule accounted for three touchdowns on the night.
After two games, Pule has found an offensive threat in Jesse Pina who finished with 123 yards receiving. For Pina it was his second game of over 100 yards receiving.
“Pina is stepping up big for us,” said Hoover head coach Chris Long. “I lucked out, Pina is in my P.E. class and I asked him to come out and play football. He is special player.”
The game couldn’t have been scripted any better for South Pasadena as they took the opening drive in for a touchdown on Patrick Martin’s first touchdown of the evening. The drive for the Tigers lasted 10 plays on 47 yards and ate up 5 minutes and 17 seconds.
After the Tornadoes went four and out, South Pasadena jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter on Bednarski’s 31-yard run.
With the game heading in the wrong direction for the Hoover, Pule went to work
Taboyoyong scored two touchdowns on the night. Photo by Anne Cypress.
orchestrating a 14 play drive that ate up 4 minutes and 35 seconds. Luke Taboyoyong capped the drive on a 24-yard pass from Pule.
Hoover forced a punt on the Tigers next offensive series. The Tornadoes came right back on another long extended 12- play drive that was highlighted by Taboyoyong finding the end zone with a 5-yard draw play to get within a point.
The Tornadoes came back in the second half and took their only lead of the game when Pina turned an innocent pass from Pule into a 59-yard touchdown reception.
With the score 31-19 late in the game, Pule would a touchdown to get Hoover within 6-points with 46 seconds remaining. The onside kick would be recovered by South Pasadena to ensure a win.
South Pasadena 14 3 7 7 31
Hoover 7 10 6 6 25
(SP) – Patrick Martin 4 run (Dominic Frescura kick)
(SP) – Conor Bednarski 31 run (Frescura kick)
(H) – Luke Taboyoyong 24 pass from A.J. Pule (Teodik Zaghian kick)
(H) – Taboyoyong 5 run (kick missed)
(SP) – Frescura 22 yard field goal
(H) – Jesse Pina 59 pass from Pule (kick missed)
(SP) – Martin 8 run (Frescura kick)
(SP) – Martin 8 run (Frescura kick)
(H) – Pule 1 run (kick missed)
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