HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Thomas Leads Muir Past Palmdale

The Pasadena Muir High football team has been among the most talented teams in the Southland in recent years. A lack of discipline on the field, however, has kept the Mustangs from competing with top programs.

Muir Coach John Tyree is slowly changing that, as evidenced by his team’s season-opening victory over Palmdale, 38-13, Friday night in a Southern Section nonleague game at Pasadena City College.

Muir, the Times’ fifth-rated team, trailed Palmdale, 13-0, midway through the first quarter. Struggling to establish an offense, Muir players seemed to be losing patience.

But Tyree, in his second season at the school, has stressed patience and discipline, and it showed when the team regrouped in the second half.

Palmdale, coming off a 3-8 season, was outscored, 25-0, in the second half. Muir quarterback Sedrick Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior, orchestrated the turnaround. He passed for more than 250 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Demetrice Martin for the final score of the game.

Thomas ran the option to perfection, picking up 70 yards. His one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave Muir a 24-13 lead.

“We were ragged and sloppy,” Tyree said. “But the thing about the Mustangs is that we play four quarters of football.”

Muir turned things around in the third quarter after blowing an opportunity to take the lead. The Mustangs drove from their 20-yard line to the Palmdale one after the kickoff, but running back Linza Williams fumbled and Palmdale defensive back Anthony Ortega recovered.

Falcon quarterback Rodney Williams was tackled for a safety on the next play, giving Muir the lead for good, 15-13.

Even the kicking game was on target for Muir in the second half. Jason Aniline converted a 27-yard field goal to increase the Mustangs’ lead, 18-13.

“Things opened up in the second half,” Tyree said, “and Sedrick (Thomas) is a talented guy and we got a lot of short passes.”

Palmdale caught Muir napping on the first play of the game. The Falcons called a halfback pass, and Ortega connected with senior receiver Paul DeAngelo for a 79-yard touchdown.

Muir gambled on its first possession, faking a punt on fourth-and-nine from its 23. Thomas’ pass was incomplete and Palmdale took over. Three minutes later, running back Vashon Lecesne scored a touchdown from three yards out to put the Falcons ahead, 13-0.