San Marino football loses close one to Monrovia

MONROVIA — For three quarters, the San Marino High football team was on the brink of a tremendous upset at perennial Rio Hondo League power Monrovia High on Friday evening.

Then the fourth quarter came and the Titans committed uncharacteristic errors, such as turning the ball over twice.

Those mistakes and others allowed Monrovia to survive and clinch a share of its sixth straight league championship after a 21-16 victory that now leaves the Titans needing a win next week over South Pasadena to secure a playoff berth.

“It was a great effort, we played our hearts out,” said San Marino senior linebacker Nick Gott, who finished with six tackles and two sacks. “It was definitely the turnovers that killed us.”

Down 11, CIF Southern Section Mid-Valley Division fifth-ranked San Marino (8-1 overall, 3-1 in league) received possession after a Wildcats touchdown at its 20 with 3:47 left in the game.

San Marino pushed 80 yards on 14 plays and pulled within a possession of the third-ranked Wildcats (7-2, 4-0) when quarterback Matt Wofford (12 for 21 for 167 yards and one touchdown and one interception) connected with receiver Buddy McCloskey on a five-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining that brought San Marino within 21-16.

Unfortunately for San Marino, the Titans were both denied on a follow-up two-point conversion attempt and subsequent onside kick.

Monrovia then clinched the game when running back Ge Vontray Ainsworth rushed for 18 yards and a first down that allowed the Wildcats to run out the clock.

“We’ve just got to put this behind us because we want to be in the playoffs,” San Marino second-year Coach Mike Hobbie said. “We want a shot at winning the whole thing and I think we’ve got a shot, but we’ve got to take care of business next week.”

The Titans trailed, 14-10, when they reached the Wildcats’ 28 before fumbling on a second down, which was recovered by Monrovia’s Isaac Miravet with 11:17 left in the fourth.

Monrovia took the ball and reached the Titans’ 30, but eventually punted after a series of penalties, which gave San Marino the ball at its 20 after a touchback.

Immediately, though, San Marino turned the ball over when Northwestern-bound linebacker Brett Walsh intercepted a botched shovel pass and the took pick to the Titans’ 15.

Three plays later, Monrovia quarterback Blake Heyworth (17 for 24 for 255 yards and one touchdown and one interception) rifled a five-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mason Bryant (seven receptions for 104 yards) that put the Wildcats up, 21-10, with 3:47 remaining.

San Marino took its only lead of the second half when Gott, also a fullback, punched in a one-yard surge with 3:45 left in the third that put San Marino up, 10-7.

Four plays earlier, Wofford connected with Gott on a 67-yard pass play that brought the Titans to the Wildcats’ 11.

Gott’s touchdown was set up after San Marino cornerback Zachary Bowles intercepted a pass in the end zone on Monrovia’s opening second-half possession.

“I was just trying to not let my receiver get on the inside,” said Bowles, who finished with seven tackles. “I saw the pass coming and I just made a play.”

Monrovia, though, answered on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Heyworth to Anthony Craft that put the Wildcats back up, 14-10, with 3:45 left in the third.

Monrovia led, 7-3, at the end of the first half with its lone score coming on a 35-yard touchdown run from junior Darione Jones with 5:30 left in the second.

Prior to that, San Marino led, 3-0, with an advantage gained on the Titans’ first drive as San Marino marched 46 yards on 11 plays before Wofford converted a 23-yard field goal at 6:11 in the first.