Column: San Marino pulls off big rally over Sierra Canyon

An injury to a team’s standout player in Week 15 of the high school football season usually means big trouble, and San Marino appeared in bad shape late in the second quarter of Saturday’s CIF championship Open Division small school regional bowl game against Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.

Quarterback Carson Glazier, with 47 touchdown passes, was slammed to the turf on a sack by Kohl Hollinquest. He never returned, and San Marino found itself down by 21 points in the fourth quarter while relying on second- and third-string quarterbacks.

But the Titans still had standout receiver J.P. Shohfi and a team full of determined players. And they were able to mount a remarkable comeback to defeat Sierra Canyon, 36-35.

Mark Wicke, the second-string quarterback, scored on a one-yard run with 1:11 left, then added a two-point conversion run to cap the Titans’ comeback. Third-string quarterback Blake Cabot had a 44-yard touchdown pass to Shohfi, and Michael Chan added a 23-yard touchdown run.

Shohfi, who came in with 103 pass receptions, was limping much of the second half but finished with 10 catches for 221 yards.

Glazier came charging onto the field afterward to hug teammates. San Marino advances to a 4 p.m. game on Saturday in Sacramento. The Titans are 15-0.

Running back Bobby Cole led Sierra Canyon (14-1) with 246 yards rushing in 27 carries.

A goal-line stand enabled Sierra Canyon to come away with a 21-14 halftime lead. On fourth-and-goal from the one, the Trailblazers stopped Shohfi short on a run.

“I don’t have words to explain that comeback except my kids never gave up,” San Marino Coach Mike Hobbie said.

Cole was the first-half offensive standout for Sierra Canyon, rushing for 143 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run. Another key contributor was Hollinquest, who caught a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Aiden Santino had touchdown passes of 18 and 17 yards from Glazier.

In 1-A, Harbor City Narbonne defeated Bakersfield Ridgeview, 35-20.

Five bowl games will be held next Friday and Saturday at Sacramento State, topped by the Open Division final between Corona Centennial and Concord De La Salle at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATSondheimer