Tigers Falls in Football Season Opener | South Pasadena High School

It wasn’t the start they were looking for, especially after so much success last season.

South Pasadena High kept it close in the first half, trailing visiting El Segundo only by six, 27-21, at the half, but were outscored 35-13 in the final two quarters as the Eagles rolled to a lopsided 62-34 non-league victory over the Tigers on Thursday night.

It was a major setback for the Tigers who captured the Rio Hondo League crown in 2024, their first in 45 years while reaching the CIF-Southern Section Division 10 semi-finals where they lost for only the third time against 10 wins on the year.

El Segundo opened the scoring with about 10 minutes to go in the first quarter on a 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Lucas Jennings, making it a 7-0 contest. Four minutes later after getting the ball back, the Eagles were back in the endzone on the ground, taking an early 13-0 lead.

Battling back, South Pasadena quarterback Andrew Nott found receiver Loran Swift deep with a pass, putting the ball on the Eagles’ two-yard line. With four minutes to go in the first quarter, the Tigers scored for the first time in 2025, as running back Trey Freking hauled in a two-yard pass, bringing South Pasadena within six,13-7.

Inside the two-minute mark, the Eagles were on the board again with another touchdown, this one on the ground to take a 20-7 advantage after the first quarter.

Just a minute into the second period, El Segundo increased its lead to 27-7 on a two-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Rodriquez.

Freking picked up his second TD of the night on a 5-yard run with seven minutes left in the second quarter, as the Tigers now trailed 27-14.

South Pasadena kept it close, scoring again inside of one minute left in the second quarter when Nott found Lorcan Swift on a 12-yard scoring pass, as the Tigers now trailed 27-21 at the half.

The final two quarters belonged the Eagles. Wiacek ran it in from three yards out with three minutes to go in the third quarter, putting El Segundo in front 34-21.

It was 41-21 with two minutes to go in the period when Lincoln Quaintance found an opening for a 35-yard touchdown on the ground.

Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Wiacek was in the end zone again on a 10-yard run, putting the Eagles comfortably in front, 48-21.

The Tigers put their final points on the board with a touchdown through the air with approximately eight minutes to go in the game while El Segundo tallied twice more, pulling away in 62-34 decisive triumph.

The Eagles, a solid opponent, wound up going 6-5 in 2024, including a 4-1 mark in the Ocean League.

Next up for the Tigers, 0-1, as they seek their first win is a second preseason matchup, is August 29 at 7 p.m. when they travel to Arcadia.

Tigers 2025 Football Schedule

Friday, August 22 versus El Segundo, 7 p.m. non-league L 62-34.

Friday, August 29 at Arcadia, 7 p.m. non-league

Friday, September 5 at Crescenta Valley, 7 p.m. non-league

Friday, September 12 at Golden Valley (Santa Clarita) ,7 p.m. non-league

Friday, September 19 versus Franklin, 7 p.m. non-league

Thursday, September 25 at West Covina, 7 p.m. non-league

Friday October 3 at Monrovia, 7 p.m. League game

Friday, October 10 versus La Canada, 7 p.m. league game

Friday, October 17, versus San Marino, 7 p.m. league game

Friday, October 24, at Temple City, 7 p.m. league game