After a statement win over previously undefeated Monrovia High, South Pasadena is riding high looking ahead to another major Rio Hondo League test.
The Tigers stunned the Wildcats 23–21 last week, earning their biggest victory of the season and improving to 3–4 overall, including 1–0 in league play.
Now, South Pasadena faces an equal or even bigger challenge — a home matchup against unbeaten La Cañada (7–0, 1–0) at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The Spartans, one of the hottest teams in the area, are coming off a dominant 44–3 league win over Temple City, showcasing a balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, La Cañada has scored 40 or more points in five of its seven games, while its defense has yet to allow more than 14 points in a single contest.
Tigers coach Jeff Chi knows his squad will be pushed to the limit, saying the Spartans are “a solid team that can run the ball and throw the ball as well. They are well coached and do not make too many mistakes on offense.”
On defense, Chi added, La Cañada is loaded with veteran talent, coming at opponents with confidence and experience — making them one of South Pasadena’s most formidable opponents.
“We need to control the line of scrimmage to run and pass the ball on offense,” said Chi. “Defensively, we have to make them earn their yardage by not giving up big plays. We have to rally to the ball and make solid tackles on the ball carrier.”
The coach is mainly speaking of Spartans senior running back Dash Paper, who has rushed for 875 yards this season on 126 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and scoring 10 touchdowns.
Chi also knows South Pasadena must put pressure on La Cañada junior quarterback Joe Bell, who has completed 47 of 79 passes for 679 yards and five touchdowns.
The Spartans’ top receiver is junior Brandon Mohaghegh, who has hauled in 18 passes for 294 yards — averaging 16.3 yards per catch — with four touchdowns.
The Tigers have plenty of firepower of their own, especially behind an offensive line that’s creating sizable running lanes for senior Trey Freking, one of the best backs in the region. Freking has carried the ball 133 times for 823 yards, averaging 137 yards per game, and has scored 14 touchdowns.
He’s coming off a 110-yard performance against Monrovia and credits much of his success to his offensive line: left tackle Hrag Ourichian, left guard Baron Shroff, center William Girvigian, right guard Ryan Hamdan/Kevin Figueroa, and right tackle Guillermo Melara-Carpio.
Guiding the South Pasadena offense is senior quarterback Andrew Nott, who connected on four of eight passes against Monrovia for 90 yards and one touchdown.
The Tigers entered league play after a roller-coaster 2–4 non-league stretch, but Chi saw it as a period of growth — a theory backed up when they toppled Monrovia, now 5–1 after suffering their first loss.
South Pasadena proved against the Wildcats that it’s capable of pulling off upsets, thanks to determination, grit, discipline, and timely execution. Chi, his assistants, and players know they’ll need another complete team effort to turn away La Cañada.
And this time, they’ll enjoy home-field advantage at South Pasadena High’s Ray Solari Stadium.
“I think having a home game will be huge for us, especially with the fans cheering for us,” said Chi. “We have been on the road for a while and are looking forward to playing on our field for an important game. I believe our team plays a little extra harder on our home field, and we expect to win on our own turf.”
After taking on the Spartans, the Tigers close out the regular season with a home rivalry showdown against San Marino on October 17, followed by a road trip to Temple City on October 24.
La Cañada, meanwhile, will host Monrovia and finish at San Marino. With the top two teams in the Rio Hondo League advancing to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, every game carries major postseason implications.
South Pasadena hopes to ride the momentum from last week’s emotional win, finish strong by winning the next two, and defend its league crown.
The Tigers ultimately want to get back to where last season left off. After finishing the 2024 campaign as league champs, South Pasadena went deep into the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, reaching the semifinals.
So, the stage is set: the Tigers, flying high after beating Monrovia, versus the Spartans, rolling along without a loss and playing at top form.
“I like the fact that our players have demonstrated persistence, resilience, and grit through some tough times,” Chi said. “They have believed in each other and the program and continued to work hard. They understand the bigger picture in the end, which motivates them to continue to work and perform.”
