San Fernando Keeps Good Times Rolling

The cheerleaders and band were fine, but San Fernando High players provided all the necessary sound effects in a 31-14 Valley Mission League victory on Friday night that kept the Tigers unbeaten.

Reserves cheered the starters, and late in the fourth quarter, the starters cheered as the reserves made the most of their playing time.

Players pounded their thigh pads in unison, slapped one another’s hands and shouted and laughed all the way to the Tigers’ first 7-0 record since 1991.

“We are a family and the greatest of friends,” quarterback Thomas Hoohuli said. “We stay hungry, but we stay humble. We are trying to make this season special.”

Hoohuli did his part, passing for 203 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard play to Jose Montes on the first play of the fourth quarter that put San Fernando far enough ahead at 28-7 to begin emptying the bench.

The score was the second of the game for Montes, a senior three-sport standout who is playing football for the first time since ninth grade. He had six catches for 113 yards against Reseda (6-1, 1-1 in league play) and this season has six touchdowns and an average of nearly 22 yards on 21 receptions.

“Their corner fell down and I knew that if Thomas got me the ball it would be a touchdown,” Montes said of the 75-yard play.

Montes might be making flashy plays, but 6-foot-1, 210-pound tailback Bobby Stanley supplies the blue-collar labor. As power tools go, Stanley was an auger against Reseda, boring through the middle for 134 yards in 19 carries.

Stanley had all of San Fernando’s 101 rushing yards in the first half, including a seven-yard scoring run for the only points of the first quarter. The run came after an errant Reseda punt snap resulted in Jose Beltran tackling punter Dario Ojeda at the seven.

San Fernando (2-0 in league play) added to the lead early in the second quarter on an 18-yard reception by Montes.

Two penalties on the Tigers’ next possession resulted in Reseda gaining good field position and driving 44 yards in six plays for a touchdown.

Jason Wagner scored on a 15-yard pass from Carlos Hernandez.

The Tigers answered less than two minutes later with a 25-yard pass play from Hoohuli to Gerardo Rubi that made the score 21-7 at halftime.

Rubi also intercepted two passes replacing injured cornerback Dominic Lugo.

“We are getting people to contribute who aren’t necessarily starters,” Coach Sean Blunt of San Fernando said.

Steve Nevarez, San Fernando’s All-City two-way lineman, sat out the second half with a strained knee, but the Tigers had plenty in their tank to finish off Reseda.

“I’ll be fine,” Nevarez said. “I’m having fun watching other guys do well.”