By SHEL SEGAL
La Salle High running back Nico Cantos scored from 12 yards out in overtime to give the Lancers a 28-21 victory over host Pasadena High in a nonleague game.
Cantos finished the game with 159 yards on 21 carries.
With the win, La Salle improved to 2-0, while Pasadena fell to 1-1.
Trailing, 21-14, Pasadena tied up the game with 5:12 left to play when quarterback Jorge Reyna hit receiver Tyrek Adams with an 81-yard scoring pass.
Reyna put on quite the performance in the losing effort, completing 21 of 34 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
La Salle coach Russell Gordon tipped his cap to Pasadena’s effort following the game.
“That was a good job by the Bulldogs,” Gordon said. “The main thing is we fought four quarters and a half and I’m proud of my kids.”
Gordon added his team played tough when it counted.
“We’re going to be fine,” he said. “We sat four starters out tonight and we got it done with guys who need to get it done if we make a deep run.”
Pasadena coach Doug Bledsoe said the Bulldogs did their best to keep up with La Salle.
“We played all right,” Bledsoe said. “We didn’t play our best game. But we did play with our hearts, and that’s what counts right now.”
He added there is one thing his team needs to work on.
“Execution, execution,” Bledsoe said. “In the end, La Salle played a great game. They out-executioned us and made a few great plays. Things went their way tonight. We got to get better from it.”
Taking advantage of good field possession early, La Salle scored first with 9:49 left in the first quarter when running back David La Salle found the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run to cap a three-play, 26-yard drive. That touchdown was set up by a 23-yard pass from quarterback Will Pyburn to Cantos.
La Salle made it, 14-0, with 4:37 left in the first quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by Pyburn that was set up by a 79-yard punt return from Robbie Hillier.
But Pasadena would cut the lead in half just seconds later with a 98-yard kickoff return from Chaz Collins and would tie the game late in the first quarter on a 41-yard touchdown run from running back Joseph Thomas.
(Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews.com and followed via Twitter @segallanded).
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