Quarterback Cristian Solano helped deliver the first City Section football championship for San Fernando High in 37 years on Saturday night, running for two touchdowns and passing for three touchdowns in a 42-35 victory over Canoga Park in the Division II championship game at East Los Angeles College.
"Party like 1975," read a poster a San Fernando fan was waving in the stands.
Solano, a junior, completed 15 of 22 passes for 320 yards. Daemon Thompson had two interceptions and scored a touchdown. The Tigers (12-2) won their sixth title overall and their first since 1975, when the team featured a wishbone offense and standouts Charles White, Kenny Moore and Kevin Williams.
Moore was in the audience on Saturday watching a turnaround in a program orchestrated by first-year Coach Robert Garcia.
"It's incredible the feeling I have right now," Garcia said.
Junior receiver Charles Bell, one of the best athletes at San Fernando (he also plays baseball), was roaming at will in the Canoga Park secondary, and Solano found him twice for touchdowns of 60 and 47 yards.
Canoga Park (9-5) fell behind, 42-14, in the fourth quarter, but quarterback Alex Dion rallied the Hunters with three touchdown passes. He finished 30 of 41 for 416 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions.
Hector Garcia had four sacks and a fumble recovery for Canoga Park.
