In retrospect, maybe San Marino High School’s varsity football team learned the recipe to beat El Monte from the frosh: score on the first play from scrimmage and don’t look back.
That formula worked for both squads as freshman quarterback Andy Sutherland connected with Trond Grizzell for a 27-yard touchdown connection to spark Sam Marino’s 27-20 home victory last Thursday afternoon.
The Lions consistently bit back, but the Titans scored the game-winner on a 16-yard run by Matthew Karapetyan, pictured, with 4:37 left in the game to clinch the squad’s first win of the season after competitive losses to Los Altos and Compton Dominguez.
Karapetyan paced San Marino’s offense all afternoon and bagged the second Titan touchdown on a 37 yard run late in the opening quarter. A three-yard pass from Sutherland to Nathan Fajardo capped the scoring. Kicker Jordan Evans converted on three extra points and his solid punting gave the host Titans an edge in the struggle for field position.
Fajardo and Karapetyan also excelled on defense, making big plays when needed. With the score tied at 20 apiece, Karapetyan stopped El Monte’s Louis Torres on 4th down to get the ball back for the Titans.
Other defensive stars included Jackson Herren, Seth Ruiz, Nick Derrick, Sam Fu, Jeff Conzonire and Johnny Qiu.
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