San Fernando Prevails Despite 8 Turnovers

Members of the San Fernando High team have started calling themselves the “Flying Tigers,” a term that refers to the air freight carrier of the same name.

It also alludes to the fact that the Tigers have scrapped their wishbone offense, an offensive scheme that dates back to when most of the current players were about 3 years old. The wishbone was also in vogue last season when San Fernando was anything but winging its way along--the Tigers finished 2-8.

At times, the passing attack of the Tigers almost mirrors the troubles of the financially strapped air carrier--a little short on the payoffs and failing to deliver the package to its desired destination.

Friday night against Cleveland, the Tigers sputtered their way to eight turnovers in a Valley 4-A League game, but the Tigers’ air express eventually proved too much for the Cavaliers to handle in a 29-15 San Fernando victory at Cleveland.

The Tigers, ranked No. 2 in the City Section 4-A poll, scored 22 points in the second half to knock off the Cavaliers, who couldn’t take advantage of San Fernando (5-0) and its generosity.

“You’d think we could have,” Cleveland Coach Steve Landress muttered. “How many turnovers did they have?”

Perhaps it is the new sprint-out, hell-bent offensive scheme of San Fernando that takes some of the edge off the mistakes.

“We call it the wide-open offense,” said wide-eyed Tiger defensive back-receiver Brent Huff, who scored on a six-yard run and also intercepted a pass.

Mauldin, the leader of the Tiger offense, completed 12 of 19 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown.

“When we’re on, we’re hard to stop,” Tiger Coach Tom Hernandez said. “A little of this, a little of that.” In the second half, San Fernando was unstoppable despite its mistakes. The Tigers broke a 7-7 tie with a touchdown in the third quarter and two in the fourth to blow it open.

San Fernando took a 14-7 lead when Mauldin connected with Tommy Howard for an 11-yard touchdown. The Tigers went on top, 22-7, when Huff scored on a six-yard pitch around right end. Cleveland (1-4) broke down after staying close in the first half.

After Cleveland’s first possession stalled on the Tiger three-yard line, San Fernando marched upfield, taking advantage of a key completion from Mauldin to receiver Danny Leos on a fourth-and-15 play from the Cleveland 24.

Mauldin put the Tigers on the scoreboard first with a one-yard scrambling sprint-out to the left corner of the end zone.