Football Demolition Zone

Evan Bruno, Sports Editor

The Titans’ second game of the season took place against the Arroyo High School Knights at home. The Knights were also coming off a defeat in their first game, as both San Marino and Arroyo looked to get in the win column. For the second consecutive home game, ASB planned a theme for the Titan student section, now called “The Armory.” This week’s theme was the demolition zone, as students dressed up in hardhats and construction vests, as the Titans looked to demolish the Knights on Friday night. 

Throughout the first quarter of the game, the game remained scoreless, but the Knights would get on the board first with a short touchdown run near the end of the first half. In response to this, the Titans drove the field with two minutes to go, but freshman kicker Jacob Krienberg’s kick was blocked in the final moments before half time. Going into the half, San Marino trailed Arroyo 7-0, with the offense looking to get going in the second half.

As the third quarter began, the offenses went back to being stagnant, as there were no offensive points scored in the quarter. However, senior defensive back Jaden Clarke forced the Arroyo QB to fumble the football at the San Marino ten yard line, and returned it ninety yards to even up the score at seven. 

With the final quarter beginning, a blow to the Titans occurred as starting quarterback Riley Short came down with a sprained ankle, forcing backup Brady Beck to play hero for the Titans in the fourth. The sophomore quarterback had not gotten much action the previous week against Norwalk, and was now being thrown into a tight game, where he would have to remain calm and composed to win. 

Roughly halfway through the quarter, Arroyo was able to drive down the field and rush for their second touchdown of the ballgame from the three, but their PAT was blocked, making the score 13-7, Knights. Following this score, Beck led his Titans down the field, but on fourth down with two and a half minutes to go, the Titan offense failed to convert, handing the ball and likely the win over to Arroyo. But, on the next play, the Arroyo runningback burst past the San Marino defense, but lost the ball, and the fumble was recovered by San Marino. The Titans drove down to the eight yard line to cause first and goal, and after back to back incompletions, Beck threw a pass right to a defender, but he dropped the interception, a lucky break that forced fourth down. And this mistake was capitalized on, as Beck found Ryan Park on fourth and goal, tying the game up at 13, and Jacob Krienburg’s extra point gave the Titans a 14-13 lead. And with nine seconds left, the Titans held on, final score: 14-13, San Marino. “It was a battle,” JJ Wilson, 10, said. “Luckily, we came out on top.”