Aquinas holds Pasadena at bay, moves on to the Division 7 title game

Senior receiver Cesar Fernandez and the fourth-seeded Aquinas football team advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship game, after a 31-21 victory over top-seeded Pasadena.

Aquinas moves on to the final for the sixth time in the program’s history and the fourth time since 2016.

Fernandez had three touchdowns for the Falcons, including two in the second quarter that contributed to the 21 unanswered points heading into halftime.

Fernandez had a 51-yard touchdown as time expired in the second quarter to give Aquinas a 21-7 lead. He had also rushed for a 7-yard touchdown on the previous drive.

Pasadena managed to convert on a fourth-and-1 to extend the first quarter scoring drive to take the early lead.

Ahmad Jolley rushed for 22 yards on back-to-back plays, including one for a touchdown with 4:28 left in the quarter.

Aquinas gained momentum on a block punt by Bradley Vander in the final seconds of the first quarter. Maxwell Joseph recovered the ball on the 12yard line to secure good field position.

Quarterback Dre Robles capitalized on the good scoring position, completing an 11-yard pass to Zachary Mendieta with 11:53 minutes into the second quarter to start the scoring run.

Pasadena, unfazed by the 14-point deficit to start the second half, would score an early touchdown to cut into the Falcons lead as Mekhi Fox, a UCLA commit, caught a 30-yard touchdown on a pass from quarterback Kaden Taylor.

Fox was dealing with a nagging ankle injury coming into the game and briefly left in the first quarter to get his ankle taped.

Aquinas will play on the road against Mira Costa or St. Piux X-St. Matthias.