UPDATE: In a stunning display of resilience, North Torrance football triumphed over South Torrance with a decisive score of 48-14 on October 27, 2023, marking a pivotal moment in their Pioneer League campaign. The victory was spearheaded by Jason Lewis, who delivered an explosive performance, scoring three touchdowns to lead his team to victory.
Earlier this week, North Torrance’s coach Todd Croce emphasized the need for his team to step up following the injury of starting running back Jaydan Andrade. Lewis and fellow running back Steven Sarabia rose to the occasion, combining for a powerful offensive display that overwhelmed South Torrance.
After a challenging first half, North Torrance came alive following a motivational speech from teammate Luca Galdamez. “He just told us we need to lock in. No more playing around,” Lewis said, highlighting the impact of that moment on their performance.
In the second half, North Torrance took control, beginning with a rushing attack that culminated in a touchdown from the 1-yard line by Sarabia, pushing the score to 27-14. Lewis then scored from the goal line, followed by a touchdown from Ethan Edwards on the next possession. With just under nine minutes remaining in the game, Lewis broke free for a 17-yard rushing touchdown, extending their lead to a commanding 48-14.
“It was nice to see the second half offense come out and score on all possessions,” said Croce, praising his team’s performance.
Edwards contributed not only offensively, throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Kchole Mataele-Juarez, but also defensively, intercepting two passes from South quarterback Chase Spahr. “I just knew I had to put the team on my back,” Edwards remarked, noting the impact of Lewis and Sarabia’s efforts in filling the gap left by Andrade.
Despite their struggles, South Torrance, with a modest roster of just 33 players, fought valiantly. Coach Matt Mishler acknowledged the fatigue that set in during the second half, stating, “We didn’t really have much life in the second half.”
Spahr, the league’s leading passer, managed to score an 8-yard touchdown run and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Kerekes, demonstrating his determination to keep the game competitive. “Their d-line was pretty active; they had a lot of stunts going,” Spahr commented, recognizing the challenge posed by North Torrance’s defense.
With this victory, North Torrance improves to 6-3, 2-2 in the Pioneer League, while South Torrance falls to 3-6, 0-4. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on North Torrance as they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot and aim to build on this momentum.
Stay tuned for updates as the high school football season unfolds and teams battle for supremacy in the league.
