La Cañada football rolls past San Marino, remains undefeated – Whittier Daily News

SAN MARINO — The La Cañada football team’s formula so far this season has been simple — put unrelenting pressure up front and use a committee of runners to wear out opposing run defenses.

La Cañada’s recipe remained unchanged on Friday as the team extended its unbeaten streak and beat the San Marino Titans convincingly, 46-14.

“The kids have bought in. It takes a long time at a public school to build a culture and understand what it takes to win,” La Cañada head football coach Dave Avramovich said of Friday’s win and the Spartans’ unbeaten run. “I thought the (Spartans) were tremendous tonight from the opening whistle. I think our kids have kept the ‘1-0 mindset.’”

The Spartans (8-0, 3-0) entered Friday’s game having yet to be tested. They have scored 35 or more points in all but two games so far this season. In the Rio Hondo league, the Spartans came into Friday’s game having outscored their opponents 79-7.

San Marino (3-5, 0-3) became the Spartans’ latest victim as the Titans could not slow down La Cañada’s potent running game. La Cañada rushed for 212 yards and was spearheaded by quarterback Joe Bell who gashed the San Marino run defense for three touchdowns and 98 rushing yards.

Spartans senior running back Sohan Garg added 84 rush yards on nine carries.

“I thought our guys did a good job of making (San Marino) miss and we ran the ball really well,” Avramovich said of his team’s run game. “(Bell) is a great athlete when the ball is in his hand. (Garg) is a great running back … and runs so tough.”

Bell took over Friday’s game from the opening kickoff and led the Spartans offense into the end zone four of its first five drives. Bell showed he was a dual threat and eviscerated the Titans’ defense by scoring all four of the Spartans’ touchdowns — three rushing and a 71-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Quest Swan.

The Spartans’ defense line was relentless all night and harassed San Marino quarterback Brady Beck from the Titans’ opening drive. La Cañada’s defense sacked Beck twice, forced two three-and-outs and held the Titans to 74 total yards in the first half.

“They always provide for the offense,” Bell said of his defense. “They give us the ball on the other side of the (50-yard-line) almost every time. It really helps to have a solid defense and it’s the backbone of our team.”

An untimely sack and penalty in the red zone pushed the Spartans back and ultimately forced the Spartans to settle for a 36-yard field goal. La Cañada failed to convert on the attempt but responded with three straight scores by Bell — a 7-yard run, 1-yard run and a touchdown completion — and took a 29-0 lead into halftime.