Showing a pair contrasting teams over the past two weeks to open the 2025 football season, the question comes down to which one will show up Friday night when the Tigers face Crescenta Valley on the road.
In week one, the Tigers suffered a humbling 62-34 setback to El Segundo at home, but bounced back in impressive fashion last Friday night, rolling to a 55-16 win at Arcadia.
With the second of three straight travel dates on the line, the Tigers, 1-1, are gearing up for the 7 p.m. matchup. South Pasadena doesn’t play at home until it hosts Franklin on Friday September 19 after going to Golden Valley in Santa Clarita on September 12.
Crescenta Valley, 1-0, opened its season with a 13-9 triumph over Knight of Palmdale, relying on defense and timely stops to secure the win. While the Falcons did not put up big numbers offensively, they showed they can grind out close games.
If the Tigers can showcase the same firepower they displayed against Arcadia and continue to improve defensively, they should put themselves in solid position to come away with a win against Crescenta Valley.
Junior quarterback Andrew Nott has been efficient in his first two outings for South Pasadena, completing 20 of 29 passes for 309 yards and five touchdowns while throwing just one interception. His poise under center has given the Tigers a steady presence in the passing game.
Nott’s favorite target has been junior wide out Lorcan Swift, who has already put up eye-catching numbers. At 6-1, 165 pounds, Swift has caught 13 passes for 139 yards and scored a handful of times, making him one of the most dangerous red-zone threats in the area.
The Tigers ‘ground game has been equally as strong behind senior running back Trey Freking, who has powered his way to 265 yards on 34 carries, averaging 7.8 yards per touch in the two contests. The 5-10, 180-pound standout has crossed the goal line five times, giving the Tigers a reliable weapon to balance the offense.
Defensively, the Tigers – while struggling early on – have shown bright spots. Senior lineman Grayson Ebner has been a force up front, recording two sacks and two quarterback hurries in the two games. South Pasadena coach Jeff Chi knows to compete Friday night his club will need to repeat the defensive effort that limited Arcadia to two second quarter touchdowns and a second half field goal rather than the one that plagued his team against El Segundo.
For South Pasadena the mission is clear as the big question remains: which team will take the field Friday night – the one that stumbled in week one or the one that dominated in week two?
The focus will be sustaining the momentum the Tigers generated against Arcadia, recognizing a win would give them back-to-back road victories and show they are capable of playing up to the standard that carried them to a 10-3 season and a Rio Hondo League title – the first in 45 years – last fall.
