Last season, the Titans incredible season, which included a split of the Rio Hondo League title for the first time since 2015, ended in heartbreak, with a defeat in the first round of CIF playoffs against Redlands. Many key players on the team graduated, including stars Coleman Morning, Sid Danenhauer, and Mikey Yessian, all of whom went on to play football at the collegiate level. This season, the Titans returned many key players, such as quarterback Brady Beck, 12, and lineman Mitch Mooney, 12, but there were many questions to be answered as the season developed.
Early on in the season, offensive struggles and defensive miscues in the secondary caused the Titans to open with a 1-2 record, with the one win being an overtime victory by one point. Two dominant wins against lackluster opponents in Wilson and Centennial boosted the Titans’ confidence heading into league play, with big games against powerhouse Monrovia and rival South Pasadena upcoming. “Going into league, we knew we had the talent to execute,” said Chase Mena, 10. The question was if they could truly execute.
With sure wins to end the season against Poly and Temple City, the Titans knew they needed one win over the two aforementioned teams as well as the team that was surprise of this season, La Cañada, in order to qualify for postseason play. After a blowout against Monrovia, and a heartbreaking defeat in the Crowley Cup game against South Pasadena, the Titans entered a must win game at La Canada, but they purely were outmatched. The undefeated Spartans routed the Titans, ending a chance for an automatic bid for the Titans.
The Titans ended 5-5, and their only shot for a playoff trip was an at-large bid. Luckily for the Titans, they earned a spot in the division 13 playoffs, opening with a game against Hawthorne, which was easily won. Round two against Pasadena was touted as the most competitive game of the whole playoff, and with three seconds to go, the Titans failed to convert a hail mary pass, ending their season with a 22-16 loss. Pasadena would go onto claim the title, beating Gahr in the championship.
Next season, the Titans will have to reshape their offense, losing their quarterback in Beck, and future Brown lineman Mooney. With younger stars like Parker Wilson, 10, Hunter Piccinini, 11, and Chase Mena, 10, to lead the way into the future, the Titans have a good chance to bounce back and return to the top three of the Rio Hondo League.
