Last Minute Change in Opponent for SPHS Football Team

COVID-19 forced Viewpoint of Calabasas to cancel its scheduled game against South Pasadena this week. However, after making some calls, SPHS officials were able to find an opponent in Boron of Kern County, slated to travel and play the Tigers Friday night

PHOTO: Esteban Lopez | SouthPasadenan.com News | South Pasadena High’s football team, which has wrapped up third place in the Rio Hondo League and a CIF playoff opportunity, travels to take on the unbeaten Wildcats in a 7 p.m. contest Thursday night
Good fortune came South Pasadena High’s way late this week after Viewpoint of Calabasas was forced to cancel a scheduled football game against the Tigers on account of COVID-19.
“Luckily we were able to get a new opponent for Friday night football this week,” said Anthony Chan, SPHS’s athletic director.
South Pasadena High football coach Jeff Chi learned on Wednesday morning that a Viewpoint player had tested positive for the coronavirus and the Patriots had to quarantine eight of their players, resulting in not filling a sufficient squad in time for the game slated for Saturday.
“We looked around and found that another team was in a similar situation,” said Chi, explaining his club will host Boron of Kern County at 7 p.m Friday, August 27.
“They’re about 2 1/2 hours away and were willing to come to our place,” added Chi. “We’re just grateful they are doing this for us.”
South Pasadena comes into the contest at 0-1 after dropping a 37-20 game to Lincoln of Los Angeles in its season opener on the road last week. Boron, also looking for its first win, fell to Foothill 14-7.
“Because we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for them, we had a little longer practice today,” said Chi Thursday night.
Boron had its opportunities against Foothill, Chi saying a dropped pass in the end zone and another key turnover inside the 10 led to the team’s downfall.
“They kind of let that game slip through their hands,” Chi said, noting it was similar to his own team’s loss, which included a South Pasadena fumble at Lincoln’s one and an interception at the seven. “We’re both coming out of a loss in similar fashion, so it should be a close game.”