La Mirada falls to Pasadena in CIF quarterfinals
La Mirada quarterback Nehuel Garcia makes a pass as they play Pasadena in their CIF playoff football game at Excelsior High School on Friday. Pasadena defeated La Mirada 41-31. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
NORWALK – The La Mirada High School football season came to an end last Friday night (Nov. 12) but not without a fight from the Matadores in the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 quarterfinals.
Turnovers hurt the Matadores, who got in an early 20-0 hole, and attempted a comeback, but Pasadena had an answer throughout the game and La Mirada ended its season with a 41-31 loss at Excelsior High.
Pasadena (10-2) will play Aquinas (7-5), a 35-34 winner over Leuzinger, in the semifinals tonight (Nov. 19).
“We just ran out of gas and turned the ball over four times and we had our opportunities,” La Mirada Football coach Mike Moschetti said. “Pasadena is a great team. They deserve all of the credit.
“I’m proud of these kids. They didn’t quit, they fought. You just can’t turn the ball over four times. We fought to the end and had a chance.”
The Matadores (7-5) were led by junior quarterback Nehuel Garcia (16 for 27, 1 Int., 6 carries for 40 Yds.) with 188 yards and a touchdown. La Mirada senior wide receiver Aidan Nasser led all receivers with nine catches for 111 yards and three touchdowns, while junior receiver Xavier Hicks caught five passes for 55 yards.
On the ground, senior running back Amel White carried the ball eight times for a game-high 101 yards. Senior Eddie Lafferre ran for 64 yards on 17 carries.
Pasadena was led by senior running back Mekhi Fox who accounted for four touchdowns in the game.
Fox, who had just returned from a month-long injury, rushed for one score (14 Yds.), caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt for a 58-yard touchdown.
La Mirada’s Amel White (2) scores against Pasadena in their CIF playoff football game at Excelsior High School on Friday. Pasadena defeated La Mirada 41-31. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Pasadena senior receiver Jason Sanford, Jr. caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Kaden Taylor was 7 for 10 for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Taylor also ran for 45 yards on three carries.
On the ground, senior Micah Mendoza carried the ball eight times for 53 yards for Pasadena.
The Bulldogs took an early 7-0 lead on their opening drive as Taylor scored from seven yards out.
Fox scored the first of his four TDs in the game on a 20-yard reception to lead, 14-0.
Fox scored again, this time on a 60-yard pass from Taylor, and the Bulldogs built up a 20-0 lead.
“The first quarter was ugly,” Moschetti said. “I don’t know if they were a little intimidated. We were just on our heels from the opening drive.
“We settled in and did some good things offensively and defensively.”
La Mirada finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter after Taylor fumbled and Garcia eventually tossed a 17-yard TD pass to Nasser for the first of his three scores to trail, 20-7.
A 32-yard field goal by senior kicker Aidan Petruescu late in the second quarter cut the Bulldogs lead to 20-10.
“I think after we came back and got that second (score), I think that really gave us some momentum and hope for our team,” Hicks said.
After the intermission, Pasadena scored two consecutive touchdowns, the second of which was a 58-yard punt return for a score and the 34-10 lead.
The third turnover of the game for La Mirada led to the first score for Pasadena in the quarter.
However, the “never-say-die” Matadores came back with a pair of touchdowns of their own and trailed 34-24 in the fourth quarter.
La Mirada head coach Mike Moschetti talks with kicker Aidan Petruescu in the fourth quarter as they play Pasadena in their CIF playoff football game at Excelsior High School on Friday. Pasadena defeated La Mirada 41-31. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
The first score was a 9-yard touchdown pass from Garcia to Nasser. White added a 2-point conversion with the run.
The second score came after a direct snap to junior running back Tanner Roberts, who faked a rush and threw a pass to Nasser for the 1-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs put the game away with a score, which was the third of the game for Fox. It was a 14-yard run and Pasadena led, 41-24.
Garcia concluded the scoring in the game in the last few second with a 1-yard touchdown.
“I’m proud of this team,” Moschetti added. “A lot of the time they were down and they fought their way back from El Toro to Millikan to St. Margaret’s to last week against Golden Valley and to this game (Pasadena) right here.
“We got a long way to go as a program. Our goal every year is to win a state championship. We came up short and after Christmas we’ll get back to the weight room and start the culture of building our team for next year.”
La Mirada’s Jacob Avendano (83) consoles Edward Lafferre (21) after their loss to Pasadena in their CIF playoff football game at Excelsior High School on Friday. Pasadena defeated La Mirada 41-31. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
What they said:
Xavier Hicks, junior wide receiver: “This is a great group of guys. They work hard every day. We go to practice on a bus to a different school. We have a lot of adversity going on and this is a big learning moment for us and for me especially.
“I’m going to come back better next year and see these guys and hopefully have a different outcome.”
Eddie Lafferre, senior running back: “I just have to follow my line and anything I can do is because of them. Nehuel (Garcia), Bubu (Hicks), (Aidan) Nasser are all key players on this team. If everyone does their job, we win. This year I remember how close I got to them. I didn’t know any of these players last year. I had a lot of fun times with them this year.
“You got to enjoy every minute of it. You’re going to miss it [because] as soon as it’s over, it’s over. You can’t come back to it. Next year, BuBu, Nehuel and on the line Troy Hancock will all be back and will be good. The coaches got me where I am today.”