Weekly Football Previews: La Cañada vs. South Pasadena; Prep vs Chadwick; St. Francis vs. Cathedral
LA CAÑADA VS. SOUTH PASADENA
•WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
•WHERE: South Pasadena High
•RECORDS: The Spartans are 5-4, 1-2 in Rio Hondo League; the Tigers are 6-3, 1-2 in Rio Hondo League.
•LAST WEEK: La Cañada lost to Monrovia, 51-3; South Pasadena defeated Temple City, 21-14
•OUTLOOK: La Cañada suffered its second straight league defeat Friday against Monrovia, which won the league championship. The defeat proved costly for La Cañada, which held a 3-0 lead before yielding the game’s final 51 points. The top two teams in the five-team league automatically qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs. La Cañada has lost to San Marino and Monrovia, the two squads above the Spartans in league, so a victory against South Pasadena in the final week of the regular season might put the Spartans in position to receive an at-large playoff berth. La Cañada, which last appeared in the postseason in 2014, is tied for third in league with South Pasadena. Efrem Rivera converted on a 20-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead against Monrovia. South Pasadena finds itself in an unusual situation. South Pasadena and Temple City were scheduled to meet last Friday at Temple City for their league game. However, a problem arose with the playing field, resulting in the game being shifted to South Pasadena on Monday. The layoff didn’t seem to hinder the Tigers. The Tigers held a 14-7 halftime lead before the Rams tied it at 14 in the third quarter. Temple City got a fourth-quarter touchdown from running back Ethan Hong to clinch the win and end a two-game losing skid.
•SOMETHING INTERESTING: La Cañada has been outscored, 135-66, in its three league contests.
FLINTRIDGE PREP VS. CHADWICK
•WHEN: 3 p.m. Friday
•WHERE: Chadwick
•RECORDS: The Rebels are 7-1, 1-1 in Prep League; the Dolphins are 7-1, 1-1 in Prep League
•LAST WEEK: Flintridge Prep defeated Milken Community, 69-14; Chadwick lost to Windward, 33-27
•OUTLOOK: In eight-man action, Flintridge Prep got back on track with a convincing Prep League win against visiting Milken Community on Thursday. The Rebels tallied 56 first-half points, as quarterback Max Gitlin tossed five of his six touchdowns passes in the first half. Overall, Gitlin completed 12 of 20 passes for 265 yards and no interceptions. Receiver Christian Baydaline caught four passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns for the Rebels. Teammate Zach Kim had five receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns for Flintridge Prep, which is ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Division I. Flintridge Prep enters play tied for second place with Chadwick (No. 2 in the division) behind Windward. Windward, ranked No. 1 in the division, gained a share of the league title after it posted a home win versus Chadwick on Friday and can win the title outright with a victory against Milken Community (0-2 in league) on Thursday. Chadwick, which won the league crown last season, yielded the winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter after holding a 14-6 lead in the second quarter. Dolphins running back Oryan Hamlin rushed for four touchdowns against Windward. The top two teams in the league automatically qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the Flintridge Prep-Chadwick game will finish no worse than second place.
•SOMETHING INTERESTING: Flintridge Prep is 1-2 against Chadwick since joining the eight-man circuit in 2016.
ST. FRANCIS VS. CATHEDRAL
•WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
•WHERE: St. Francis High
•RECORDS: The Golden Knights are 7-2, 1-1 in Angelus League; the Phantoms are 5-4, 2-0 in Angelus League
•LAST WEEK: St. Francis defeated Salesian, 56-0; Cathedral defeated Crespi, 24-7
•OUTLOOK: St. Francis ended a two-game losing streak by thumping host Salesian on Friday. It marked the third straight game that St. Francis has blanked Salesian. St. Francis quarterback Jack Clougherty completed all four of his passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Max Garrison and Bryson Reeves. Clougherty, in limited action, also had a 28-yard rushing touchdown. The Golden Knights will look to ride the momentum from that game against Cathedral, which clinched a share of the league title by virtue of its win versus Crespi on Friday. St. Francis and Cathedral were considered the favorites to win the league championship this season. A St. Francis victory would give it a split of the league title. Cathedral, which has won or shared the league championships for five straight seasons, earned a road win versus Crespi on Friday. Cathedral quarterback Lucas Lenhoff threw for more than 100 yards and had a touchdown pass. The Phantoms received one rushing touchdown each from Keith Davis and Darius Wallace.
•SOMETHING INTERESTING: St. Francis last won the Angelus League championship in 2014, when it finished 5-0.