As the San Pedro High football team found out in 2011, rematches in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section playoffs don't usually favor the team that comes out on top the first time around.

Not much would stop the Pirates here in this Division I first round game against visiting Fairfax of Los Angeles.

Behind a powerful running game, solid play from senior quarterback Jimmy Bryant, and an opportunistic defense that forced two second-half turnovers, San Pedro was able to prevail in a 35-10 win over Fairfax to open off the City Section playoffs. San Pedro had previously defeated the Lions, 29-0 in a nonleague game back on September 21. The victory improves the Pirates to 8-3 overall.

Santiago ran for 119 yards on 24 carries to put him over the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the year, while also running for two touchdowns, both coming in the fourth quarter as the Pirates were able to put Fairfax (6-5) to rest.

The first half wasn't as smooth for San Pedro, as they battled to an 11-3 halftime lead which could have been a lot worse for Fairfax if it weren't for Bryant being stopped for no gain on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line at the start of the quarter.  Fairfax junior defensive back Jahson Brown intercepted Bryant on San Pedro's final possession of the first half as well.

Despite that, senior kicker Christian Gonzalez made a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter, and an eight-yard touchdown run from senior running back Devon Mitchell, followed by a two-point conversion run from senior sweeper Jesse Gutierrez in the second quarter was more than enough for the Pirates to be ahead.

In the third quarter, Gonzalez's 25-yard field goal put the Pirates up, 14-3, then Fairfax junior quarterback Myles Bowen was picked off by San Pedro senior WR/LB Pete Palacios, who returned it 40 yards to the Fairfax 34-yard line, and on the very next play, Bryant hit a wide-open senior WR/DB Josh Marshall with a perfect pass for a touchdown that increased San Pedro's advantage to 21-3. Bowen would run for a short one-yard touchdown for the Lions, and it was 21-10 through three quarters.

Finally, Santiago's two touchdown runs of four and two yards sealed it for the Pirates, with the second score coming four plays after a fumble recovery from senior linebacker Joseph Stanovich.

Bryant finished 6-for-11 passing for 129 yards, while senior running back Gregory Thomas ran for 54 yards on six carries, also catching three passes for 64 yards to power San Pedro, who will next face third-seeded Venice, who throttled Sylmar, 56-14 in their first round game.

Staring with the September 21st meeting with Fairfax, Bryant has been the starting quarterback for the Pirates after original starter Nicolas Johnson tore his ACL against Locke of Los Angeles.

Bowen played great in defeat for Fairfax, running for 98 yards and throwing for 121 more. Junior kicker Selvin Arenas booted in a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter that tied the game at 3-3, ending a 99-yard, 15-play drive after the Lions' defense stopped Bryant on fourth-and-goal from their own one.

San Pedro and Venice will meet in the quarterfinals yet again after a postgame scuffle from the 2010 meeting (won by Venice, 35-10) ended with pepper spray.