A year removed from an early exit in the CIF Los Angeles City Section Division II Playoffs, the San Fernando Tigers have been on a season-long mission for a city title. After a 7-3 regular season, the second-seeded Tigers sandwiched two blowout victories around a tight win en route to Friday night’s D2 finals at Birmingham High School. Standing in the way of their championship quest were the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, who made noise in the playoffs after falling into Division II following a 5-9 regular season record. San Fernando held a 14-0 halftime lead, before the Cavaliers clawed their way back to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Tigers senior wideout Andrew Newchurch put San Fernando back in the lead before junior Ayden Celis sealed the 21-14 victory with a fumble recovery in the final two minutes of the game. 

In preparation for Friday night’s title game, San Fernando head coach Charles Burnley emphasized the team’s resilience and the importance of limiting distractions in such a high-pressure game. The Tigers received possession of the football to start the game and they immediately threw the first punch in the form of a 64-yard run from senior running back and team captain Melvin Pineda on the first play of the game. Already in goal territory, a third down facemask penalty from Cleveland set up a one-yard score from Pineda two plays later to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead on their opening drive. 

On the fourth play of their opening drive, the Cavaliers relinquished possession of the football on a fumble that was recovered by San Fernando junior middle linebacker Brandan Marshall. With their offense already near midfield, the Tigers continued to put the ball in the hands of Pineda – through the air and the ground – as they successfully moved the chains. Once again reaching the red zone, Pineda made his way into the end zone on a two-yard score for his second of the night, giving San Fernando an early 14-0 advantage with 5:53 left in the first quarter. 

Both defenses settled into the contest, each forcing a turnover on downs on their next defensive outings. Following a three-and-out from the Cavaliers, the game moved into the second quarter where the Tigers went back to a steady diet featuring Pineda.  San Fernando made their way into Cleveland territory when Tigers senior quarterback and team captain Julian Larzo threw an interception to Cavaliers sophomore linebacker Joseph Hurtado. 

With 8:09 remaining in the first half, Cleveland got the ball rolling offensively through the ground game courtesy of senior running back Brandon Maldonado. The Cavaliers ate up the next four minutes of the clock on this drive, before San Fernando earned a third down stop near goal territory to force a field goal attempt. The chip shot field goal attempt bounced off of the upright, and the Tigers preserved the first half shutout heading into the locker room with a 14-0 lead. 

The Tigers defense prevailed once again to begin the second half, once more turning the Cavaliers over on downs with a stand on fourth down. With the contest beginning to slip away, Cleveland junior linebacker and team captain Oluwafemi Okelola picked the ball off on the second play of the San Fernando drive to give possession back to the offense. 

In favorable field position on the Tigers 40-yard line, the Cavaliers took advantage of the takeaway through their rushing attack of Maldonado and junior quarterback and team captain Domenik Fuentes. Facing a third goal and situation, Fuentes reached the end zone for a 3-yard score to make the score 14-6 after the failed extra point attempt. 

San Fernando took the field for their next offensive drive with under four minutes remaining in the third quarter looking to extend their lead. A roughing the kicker penalty from the Cavaliers on a Tigers punt attempt extended their offensive drive as the contest moved into the fourth quarter. A 7-yard loss on a run by Newchurch and a delay of game penalty forced the Tigers to punt the ball back to Cleveland with 10:59 left in the game. 

On the first play of the next drive for Cleveland, Maldonado put the Cavaliers into the red zone territory with an explosive 26-yard run. Three plays later, Fuentes earned his second rushing touchdown of the game with a one-yard score. Hurtado pounded in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14 with 9:33 left in the game. 

With a city championship hanging in the balance, the Tigers offense calmly took the field seeking to regain the momentum. San Fernando senior wideout Darrion Turner Jr. hauled in a 13-yard first down grab on the second play of the drive before Larzo used his legs for an 18-yard gain on the next play. The Tigers faced a 4th & 2 situation with their season on the line when Turner Jr. made a clutch 14-yard catch to extend the drive. 

Having reached the red zone, Coach Burnley proceeded to substitute Newchurch in at quarterback in the wildcat formation for the running game. Three plays later, Newchurch ran the ball up the middle for a 2-yard score as San Fernando retook the lead at 21-14. 

The Cleveland offense took the field with 4:36 remaining in the game with two timeouts left – enough time to even the score. Facing a 4th and 2 scenario, Cleveland junior Joseph Hurtado kept the hopes alive for the Cavaliers with a first down conversion. As the clock continued to run with 2:30 left in the game, Fuentes threw a pass to junior tight end Cobe Green for a monumental 37-yard reception. 

Having reached the San Fernando 27-yard line, Fuentes once again connected with Green, who committed a costly, untimely fumble that was recovered by Celis. The crowd on the San Fernando side went into a frenzy as players celebrated in euphoria as time expired with the Tigers clinching their first CIF City Section championship since they won at the Division I level in 2017.

Coach Burnley credited San Fernando defensive coordinator Roderick Williams for his team’s defensive effort on Friday night, “They’re incredible. Coach Williams did a hell of a job.” Pineda put together a championship effort in the ground game as he finished with 20 carries for 170 rushing yards and 2 TDs. As a former alumni of San Fernando, this 2025 CIF championship is a very meaningful one for Burnley, “For me, personally it hits home. For these guys, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”

San Fernando plays Woodbridge high school on Friday night at University High in Irvine, California in the CIF Sate Regional Finals at 7:00 p.m.