For a week, South Pasadena High’s football team had the uneasy feeling that last year’s magic might have faded.
The Tigers were coming off a humbling 62-34 loss to El Segundo in their opener, a game in which their defense struggled much of the night.
Indeed, it was tough to take for a program on the upswing in recent years, coming off a 10-3 2024 season, winning its first Rio Hondo League championship in 45 years, and advancing to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.
Understandably, doubts may have crept in with a new campaign just getting underway.
Friday night in their second test, those doubts were pushed aside in a big way as South Pasadena picked up its first victory, waiting a little longer than it wanted, in turning away Arcadia 55-16 in non-league action.
In convincing fashion, South Pasadena jumped out to a 27-0 first quarter lead before the Apaches momentarily climbed back into it, scoring 13 points in the second period, only to see the Tigers add 14 more ahead of halftime, as they held a comfortable 41-13 advantage at the break.
South Pasadena outscored Arcadia 14-3 in the third period to end the scoring and let future opponents know they’re back following what they hope was only a season opening hiccup. For Arcadia, now 0-2, it will mean waiting at least another week before recording its first win.
The Tigers’ four touchdown blitz in the initial 12 minutes of play came on a 41-yard run by Trey Freking, a 65-yard pass to Lorcan Swift, a 65-yard punt return by Swift and another one on the ground by Freking from 13 yards out.
With 10 minutes left in the second quarter, the Apaches put their first points on the board as Arcadia quarterback A.J. Pressnall connected with Alejandro Uriarte on a 60-yard scoring pass. Midway through the period, the Apaches were on the board again as Ethan Long went 13 yards on the ground for the TD, closing the gap to 27-13.
The Tigers’ pair of second period scores came on a 35-yard run by Freking and a 13-yard pass to Swift, the latter as the final seconds before the half were ticking down.
South Pasadena continued the onslaught in the third quarter on 25-yard scoring run by Cody Robinson and a 25-yard TD pass to Swift. By then the Tigers were well on their way to the win, leading 55-13 before Aaron Zan booted a 25-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the period, giving Arcadia its only other points on the night. There was no scoring in the fourth quarter.
Swift finished with three touchdowns through the air in the game, while quarterback Andrew Nott was solid under center, making all the TD throws. Freking had three rushing scores while Robinson added one. The Tigers kicking game looks sound as Nicholas Dragonas connected on seven of eight PATs.
The victory wasn’t only about the final score in the Tigers favor. It was about the response. South Pasadena rediscovered its winning ways, reminding players, coaches and fans alike of what made last season so memorable.
The Tigers set the tone early offensively, tightened up defensively, and never let the Apaches get comfortable in a game that ended up with South Pasadena walking off the field feeling, at least for a week, like it found its spark again.
The schedule only gets tougher from here with the Rio Hondo League looming in about a month and rivalries rekindling. The Tigers travel to Crescenta Valley on Friday, September 5, at 7 p.m. for their third of six non-league matchups.
For now, South Pasadena can breathe a little easier, back on track and reminded of the identity that carried them so far a season ago.
