San Pedro Wins in Overtime

San Pedro completed only one pass Friday night, but it came at the best possible time.

Johnathon Marselis connected with David Garcia for a seven-yard touchdown in overtime as the defending City Section 4-A champions defeated previously undefeated Westchester, 12-6, in a semifinal game at Westchester.

“I guess we’re not the sixth-seeded team,” San Pedro Coach Mike Walsh said, bristling at his team’s low seeding. “We’re at least No. 2.”

The rain turned nearly the entire field to mud and kept both teams from passing. Marselis was zero for two with one interception during regulation play, while Westchester quarterback Jay Morris was three for seven for eight yards.

“[The rain] made for a bad football game, but one happy team,” Walsh said after his team improved to 12-1, winning for the 26th time in 27 games over the past two seasons.

Westchester, 12-1 and seeded second, opened the scoring 5:56 before halftime. Charles Drake darted 15 yards past San Pedro defenders, three plays after Denard Barton recovered quarterback Rashaud Armstrong’s fumble at the Pirates’ 21-yard line.

James Thompson’s extra-point kick was blocked.

San Pedro threatened to score midway through the third quarter, driving to the one-yard line, four plays after recovering a fumble at the Westchester 20-yard line. However, Marselis slipped on a quarterback sneak on third and goal.

Two illegal-procedure penalties pushed the Pirates back to the 11, where Marselis fumbled and was tackled for a 12-yard loss.

San Pedro tied the score with 6:29 left in regulation on Holman Wiggins’ five-yard run, culminating a 40-yard, seven play drive.

The Pirates failed to take the lead as Nick Vergara’s extra-point kick was blocked.

Neither team scored on their first overtime possessions.

San Pedro will face Woodland Hills Taft in the championship game Friday night at the Coliseum.