Led by head coach Rick Pedroarias ’84, the varsity football team started its season strong with a victory against the Fairfax High School Lions at home under the new lights, winning 52-7.
In the first quarter, senior linebacker Jack Fitzgerald scored the first touchdown of the season off a blocked punt, opening the floodgates for the ensuing avalanche of touchdowns. After ending the first quarter up 7-0, the Cubs started the second quarter strong. On the first drive senior captain and running back Dakota Smith led the team to a rushing touchdown.
Smith said, “Honestly, we’ve had our success by just running the ball down the field. We’re moving the ball really great, and I love it.”
Freshman quarterback Miller Moss, who completed 5 of 7 passes, focused on establishing the running game early. Moss said, “Coming into the game, we knew we could run the ball down the field. So that’s what we did, and it worked perfectly.”
Led by junior Speed Fry and seniors Michael Graves and Jacob McBride, the Cub running backs combined for more than 200 yards and five touchdowns. Fry said, “The inside runs have worked out great because the offensive line is giving me big holes. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
With managers scrambling to record stats, backups reading play charts, and the linemen being briefed on the sideline, the energy was high. Another turnover allowed Dakota Smith to score his second rushing touchdown of the game.
After the team forced yet another blocked punt that led to a touchdown, senior captain Ty Mahar said, “We brought back the wolfpack defense from the time of Coach Grady that focuses on hard work and hitting hard.”
Senior captain Tommy Vannis led the Cubs defense in shutting out the Lions in the first three quarters. The Lions’ only touchdown came late in the game when they faced the Cubs’ reserves. Vannis said, “We came out and hit people and showed everyone how physical we can be.”
Throughout the game, junior Nick Barr-Mira showed why the Los Angeles Times ranked him as one of the top 10 kickers in Southern California. He completed all seven of his PAT’s and a field goal.
After the game, Coach Quedenfeld said, “We’ve had success just getting the ball to our best athletes on the team, Dakota Smith and Jacob McBride, and they’ve done a great job. Ty Mahar, our captain and leader at center, is a heck of a player. He’s a throwback, and it all starts with him.”
Last Friday, Sept. 1, the Cubs suffered a defeat against Santa Margarita High School, losing 35-0. Halfway through the first quarter, Moss threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Santa Margarita. At halftime, the defense regrouped and shut out Santa Margarita in the second half, but the offense failed to put points on the board.
Tonight, the varsity football team travels San Diego to face St. Augustine at Mesa College.
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