The La Cañada High School varsity football team achieved an impressive 55-12 victory over visiting Rosemead in its season opener last Thursday.
The 55 total points stand as the second-highest tally in a single game since last year’s season opener against the same opponent. Notably, the 43-point margin of victory marks the largest win to begin the season in the past two decades. The last time the Spartans won the first game of the season by a margin of 35-plus points dates back to their 2021 victory against Glendale, where LCHS triumphed, 58-21.
Although trailing 12-7 at the conclusion of the first quarter, La Cañada’s dominant defense successfully shut out the visiting Panthers for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, the offense came to life, amassing 27 points in the second quarter and an additional 21 points in the second half.
Spartans senior quarterback Macky Plocher had an exceptional performance, completing 10 of 15 passes for an impressive 322 yards passing and four touchdowns. Plocher exhibited a fine running game, accumulating 65 yards and a touchdown on five carries. Senior Tyler Bond contributed significantly with four receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns while senior Hayden Dancsecs made a 90-yard touchdown catch.
Senior captain Lorenz Bayug rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and returned three kickoffs for 61 yards. Senior Alan Razo made three catches for 63 yards and a touchdown with a 17-yard carry while junior Sohan Garg rushed for 23 yards and a pair of touchdowns on four carries. Senior Luke Raulli made a pair of catches for 81 yards while junior Quest Swan went 7-for-8 in PAT attempts with two tackles on defense.
Senior Kei Hartzberg racked up 10 tackles and a sack, junior Josh Carruthers finished with nine tackles and junior River Wokosin registered eight tackles and a pair of sacks. Senior Anthon Cannon tallied five tackles and a sack, senior Cayden Klein recorded three tackles and a sack and senior Brandon Goldsby and junior Warner Ibsen each finished with two tackles and a sack. Senior Matthew Fan, junior Syem Bangash, junior Jason Xaypraseuth, junior Cole Parisi and junior Morgan Strauss each had three tackles. Senior Paulos Cucullu, junior Spencer Turner, sophomore Bryson Bond and freshman Joe Bell each had two tackles. Senior Alex Quan, junior Milo Reifsnyder-Smith, sophomore Dash Paper, sophomore Jacob Kim, sophomore Jackson Radabaugh, sophomore Mike Hofman and sophomore Skylar Henry each had one tackle.
LCHS (1-0 overall) will host Norwalk for a nonleague game tomorrow at 7 p.m. before visiting Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary in Montebello on Sept. 1.
ST. FRANCIS
The Golden Knights opened the regular season with a lopsided 58-13 victory over visiting West Ranch High of Valencia last Friday. Individual statistics were not reported to the Outlook Valley Sun.
SFHS (1-0 overall) will host Mira Costa High of Manhattan Beach on Friday at 7 p.m. before hosting Millikan High of Long Beach on Sept. 1.
FLINTRIDGE PREP
Head coach Russell White and the Wolves’ varsity 8-man football team are back on the field this week taking on visiting Victory Christian Academy High of Chula Vista on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Flintridge Prep will visit Cate High in Carpinteria for a nonleague game on Sept. 2 before hosting Mammoth High of Mammoth Lake on Sept. 8.
First published in the August 24 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
