Thursday Night Final: Deja vu in reverse as Monrovia rally falls short in 30-27 setback to South Hills; Duarte beats Ganesha, 35-20


COMING UP SHORT: Monrovia’s Darione Jones runs for a first down in Thursday’s nonleague game at Covina District Field. Host South Hills held on for a 30-27 victory.
Staff photo by Sarah Reingewirtz

Deja vu in reverse?
It sure seemed that way for Monrovia, which fourth-quarter rally fell short in a 30-27 setback to host South Hills at Covina District Field.
The Wildcats (2-2), who held on for a 28-25 victory on the same field in 2010, nearly stole victory from defeat after scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter before a 14-yard pass from Blake Heyworth Anthony Craft to the Monrovia 29 was a yard short of a first down on fourth and 15..
South Hills, which had quarterback Adam Goss account for 180 yards and three touchdowns, then ran out the clock to improve to 3-1.
The Huskies, taking advantage of four Monrovia turnovers in the first half, led 30-7 with just over two minutes in the third quarter following a 15-yard run by Lawson Careny.
Monrovia, which had just four first downs during the first half, then woke up.
The Wildcats, getting 171 yards passing and two touchdowns from Heyworth, made it 30-20 following a 1-yard run by Heyworth and a 3-yard pass from Heyworth to George Frazier V during the middle of the quarter.
Heyworth then made it 30-27 with just over three minutes to play with a 36-yard pass to Mason Bryant.
Heyworth, after Monrovia stopped South Hills on three plays, threw three consecutive incomplete passes before his fourth-down toss to Craft was a yard short.
DUARTE 35, GANESHA 20
Denzel Talifero rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns as the Falcons opened Montoview League play with a win over the Giants.
Duarte, which improved to 2-2 overall, also got 130 yards and a touchdown from Marcus Lewis.

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Volleyball: St. Lucy’s gets the best of La Salle, wins rematch in five games


ST. LUCY’S REPEAT: La Salle’s Renasssiance Forster (11) scores against St. Lucy’s Veronica LaPierre (11) during Wednesday’s nonleague match. The visiting Regents won in five games.
Staff photo by Keith Birmingham

By Keith Lair, SGVN
Twitter.com/KeithLLair

GLENDORA – It is nearly two months before the CIF-Southern Section volleyball playoffs begin.
But La Salle and St. Lucy’s Priory high schools did not act as if it was that far off on Wednesday evening. The teams acted as if the nonleague match was the CIF-SS Division 1A finals.
Heck, it could have been. The teams met for the Division 2AA title last year. Wednesday, the Regents managed to survive a five-game, 2-hour, 15-minute marathon.
“These are matches that get you ready for CIF,” St. Lucy’s coach Sean Douglas said. “What a great match it was.”
St. Lucy’s, which has not lost to La Salle the last four times they have met in the last three years, including two playoff matches, prevailed 28-30, 25-20, 25-18, 22-25, 15-12.
“That was mentally and physically exhausting,” Regents senior Vanessa Caustrita said. “I knew we could do it. It’s La Salle. Mentally we knew it would be a tough game and it was. They are very scrappy.”
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Pacific League coaches to speak at Pasadena QBs Club on Friday

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
twitter.com/srammy8

It’s Pacific League day at this week’s Pasadena Quarterbacks Club.
The non-profit organization, which helps support local high school and college football programs, welcomes six of the league’s eight coaches, including Muir’s John Harvey, Pasadena’s Randy Horton and Arcadia’s Chris Long, to speak Friday. The weekly luncheon is scheduled for the Courtyard by Marriott, located at 180 North Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.
Lunch, which is $23 for members and $30 for non-member guests, begins at 11:50 a.m. Doors open at 11:30, with $5 valet parking available at the hotel.
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FOOTBALL: Monrovia’s George Frazier V busy going sideline to sideline


DOUBLE TROUBLE: Monrovia High School’s George Frazier V, who’s ability on offense and defense oft has opponents seeing double. Staff photo by Keith Birmingham

By Keith Lair, SGVN
Twitter.com/KeithLLair

MONROVIA – Monrovia High School football opponents must think they are seeing double when they see No. 5 on the field.
It’s likely that either the Wildcats have a lot of duplicate numbers or that George Frazier V is seemingly everywhere, driving opponents batty.
There are obviously no duplicates. There’s definitely only one No. 5 and there is no question it is Frazier.
This year he has been playing outside linebacker. If a team’s best player lines up at wide receiver, the senior often shadows him. Defensive line? Frazier can do that, too.
Offensively? Frazier is currently playing tight end, so he blocks and catches the ball. Quarterback? He started several games at the position last year.
“I love playing football,” Frazier said. “Where ever you need me, that’s where I’m going to play.”
So is there anything that the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder cannot do?
“He’s versatile, absolutely he can do anything,” Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox said. “He can play defensive line, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, he can run the ball, he can play quarterback. We can can move him around to play any position.”
How about kicker?
“I don’t know if we have really tried,” Maddox said.
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Notebook: Pasadena Poly’s McGrail fits the Bill


MEETING OF THE MINDS: Pasadena Poly football coach Brendan McGrail, right, has had some interesting experiences, including a relationship with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Staff file photo by Keith Birmingham

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
twitter.com/srammy8

Brendan McGrail, who is in his ninth season at Pasadena Poly, has had some unusual experiences coaching football.
They include coaching former NFL All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook while McGrail was an assistant at DeMatha Catholic High School near Washington, D.C., and an association he developed with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as an assistant at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.
He recalled his story about Belichick during last week’s Pasadena Quarterbacks Luncheon. McGrail, a young assistant at the time, also was in charge of putting together a Phillips Academy recruiting brochure. Learning that Belichick was an alumnus of the school, McGrail attempted to get a quote from the then New York Jets’ defensive coordinator.
“I told the principal that I would really like to get a Bill Belichick quote for the brochure,” McGrail recalled. “I, being a high school football coach myself, thought really highly of him and thought it would be neat.”
He attempted to call Belichick and, expecting to get the coach’s secretary on the line, instead heard a male voice saying `Yeah.’
“It was a real deep voice (saying), `Yeah,’ ” McGrail said. “I said, `Can I speak to coach Belicheck?’ The voice said, `Speaking.’
“He sounded exactly like the intimidating person I’ve known as a football fan, so I decided to get my question out as quickly as possible. He said, `Whoa! Slow down, tell me what you need.’ ”
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