MidValleySports.Com

By Alex A. Gonzalez

South Pasadena – After being down 15-3 in the first half of Friday night’s contest between South Pasadena and La Canada, the Tigers recovered two fumbles which led them to outscore the Spartans 20-7 in the final 24 minutes, paving the way for their 23-22 come from behind win in front of a boisterous crowd at South Pasadena High school. 

To start the second half, South Pasadena was set to kick the ball off to the Spartans, but Tigers head coach Jeff Chi had other plans when he elected to go for an onside kick that worked in his favor. Jackson Radabaugh gained possession of the ball for La Canada, but then fumbled it away, allowing Mikey Dilisio to take it for South Pas. 

The Tigers then forced fed running back Trey Freking on six of the seven-play drive that eventually was capped off by Freking’s one-yard touchdown run with 8:36 remaining in the third quarter. 

“We totally sensed that momentum after that first fumble when we got the ball back after the half. I think the first half we weren’t executing our game, and once we got the ball back, we showed out what we can do,” said Freking postgame. 

La Canada then responded on their next possession, consuming just over five minutes of game clock. Quarterback Joe Bell got the drive started when he scrambled out of the pocket and gained 32 yards. Then, after two completed passes for 11 and eight yards, both Bell and Dash Paper split carries that got them down to the one-yard line. Bell capped the drive when the offense lined up in their heavy package and bulldozed his way in for six. 

South Pas then worked the game clock to their favor on the next series. The Tigers compiled a 14-play drive, including going for it on fourth down twice, spanning almost 10 minutes. Then, with the ball placed at the Spartan five-yard line and facing a fourth and five, Andrew Nott dropped back to pass to find Toshio Matsuoka alone in the end zone. After the 2-point attempt failed, LC held a 22-17 advantage midway through the fourth quarter. 

The Spartans then tried to ice the game by handing the ball off to Paper, who eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing for the season. However, on the second play from scrimmage, Paper took the handoff, darted up the middle for a 10-yard gain, but then fumbled the ball away. Lorenzo Jones recovered the ball for SP at midfield, swinging the momentum back towards the Tigers. 

Of the 10 plays on the game-winning drive, the Tigers only passed the ball once. That one catch was hauled in by Jones, who recovered the fumble a series ago. The other nine plays consisted of three different running backs, taking turns at carrying the ball down the field. Then, with 1:17 remaining in regulation, Freking took the handoff for the 27th time of the night, made a cut to the short side of the field, and reached paydirt, giving the Tigers their first lead. 

“On that last drive, I told them, give it all you got. This might be the last chance to play against this team, so give it all you got and put your heart on the line,” commented Freking when talking about the go-ahead drive. 

With only 1:08 remaining and two timeouts left, the Spartans started their drive at the 12-yard line. But the Tigers played prevent defense for the final nine plays of the game, and the Spartans could not come within field goal range for a game-winning kick. 

South Pasadena struggled after taking a 3-0 lead after their first possession. The offense possessed the ball two more times in the first half, and both drives ended in punts. La Canada, who came into the game undefeated, took the lead at the 1:23 mark of the first quarter when Paper punched in his only touchdown of the night. After a successful 2-point attempt and a 60-yard TD run by Bell, the Spartans went into intermission up 15-3. 

With the comeback win, the Tigers are 2-0 in Rio Hondo league play and are in the driver’s seat for a second consecutive Rio Hondo league title. They will look to make it 3-0 next Friday when they host San Marino for the Crowley Cup. 

La Canada will look to bounce back next Friday when they host Monrovia.