Sports
Bednarski's Late Heroics Key South Pasadena's 27-21 Football Win Over Glendale
Quarterback Conor Bednarski extended the winning drive with a fourth-down keep, then passed for the clinching TD.
Conor Bednarski came through when South Pasadena High's football team needed him most on Sept. 24 in the home opener against visiting Glendale.
With the score tied in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter and South Pasadena (3-0) faced with a fourth-and-five, the quarterback's 11-yard run kept the Tigers alive, and two plays later Bednarski connected with Matt Nelson on a 28-yard touchdown pass for a dramatic 27-21 victory.
Bednarski completed 13 of 25 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, both to Nelson, who had five receptions for 106 yards.
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"It wasn't always pretty, but the guys played hard," Bednarski said. "We really earned this one. We've got a lot of work to do. I'm not even looking down the road, just next week."
Coach Ed Smith liked the way South Pasadena responded when challenged.
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"What really pleased me about the kids is that they really came through when things got tough," Smith said. "That's when key players make big plays. That's when you stick together. It's what we preach to these guys."
South Pasadena went right to work, scoring on a 51-yard drive on its first possession, capped by Patrick Martin's 3-yard run.
On the next drive, South Pasadena needed just three plays, scoring on a 30-yard pass from Bednarski to Nelson.
Meanwhile, South Pasadena held Glendale without a first down in the first half, though the Nitros did manage to score on Alex Maravilla's 70-yard return of a blocked field goal. He added an interception.
In the second half, Glendale moved the ball, driving 80 yards and scoring on Alex Manukian's 1-yard run.
South Pasadena answered with a Martin's 5-yard touchdown run following consecutive 15-yard runs. Martin had 122 yards on 20 carries, and he also averaged 24.3 yards on three kick returns.
Down 21-13 in the fourth quarter, Glendale scored on Alex Yoon's 80-yard run, followed by a tying two-point conversion to set up Bednarski's winning touchdown.
In earlier action, South Pasadena's JV won 49-7, and the frosh team won 21-19.
