With senior quarterback Matthew Partyka back after sitting out the sloppy win over Bellarmine-Jefferson, St. Monica High School rolled over St. Genevieve on Nov. 5, notching a 38-21 victory that gives them momentum as postseason on the horizon.
Partyka threw for five touchdowns and just one interception while racking 317 passing yards, connecting on 17 of his 26 passing attempts. St. Genevieve was simply no match for the Mariners, who led 38-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter on their home turf, the field at Playa del Rey St. Bernard High School.
“He has had the potential all season and finally put it together,” Mariners head coach Larry Muno of Partyka, who averages 200 passing yards per game this season and has 18 touchdowns (and 12 interceptions).
“Sometimes when you stand on the sidelines and watch the game, you have a better perspective of what’s going on,” Muno said, referring to the Bell-Jeff game, when Partyka was calling plays to wide receiver-turned-quarterback Sam Holguin from the sideline. “We worked a lot on the gameplan together.”
The results were evident on the field against St. Genevieve (6-4; 2-2 Santa Fe League). In addition to Partyka’s performance, the Mariners backfield, running backs Sean Martinez and Chris Corbally, rushed for a combined 108 yards. Corbally also had five receptions for 95 yards.
The Mariners also shined on defense, with Sia’anga Moala, Ron Gibson and Mau Lauki registering multiple sacks for loss.
“It was a complete game for us, finally,” Muno said.
The win means the Mariners now occupy second place in Santa Fe League, behind Salesian, and possess a 6-3 record (2-1 Santa Fe League). With one regular season game, a contest in Panorama City against St. Anthony on Nov. 12, remaining, St. Monica is geared up for a playoff run.
“We have an opportunity to win the league if Salesian stumbles,” Muno said, adding the team would “get into the playoffs” and “take it one game at a time” from there.
