Nothing could stop San Pedro High football on this rare Thursday night game, even with their starting gunslinger out of action.

With senior quarterback Jacob Miller missing his first start in three years due to an ankle injury, junior quarterback Austin Jackson stepped in and did an admirable job, while the defense once again shined as the host Pirates rolled to a 45-21 victory over Roosevelt of Los Angeles in their home debut.

Jackson completed 6-of-11 passes for 126 yards and two spectacular touchdowns, while the running game was back to normalcy with sophomore running back Sean Davenport rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, and senior running back Brian Halsey rushing for 84 yards on 10 carries for San Pedro (1-1 overall), who came into this game reeling after last week’s 13-2 loss to Downey.

The defense would put San Pedro ahead early, as junior WR/DB Mikey Hernandez Jr.’s punt pinned Roosevelt deep on their own 2-yard line, and on the next play, senior quarterback Andrew Gallegos dropped the snap, then San Pedro senior defensive end Vincent Wood pounced on the loose ball for a touchdown, and a 7-0 lead with 7:19 remaining in the first quarter.

After a three-and-out from the Roughriders, Jackson would strike for a 36-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Mike Spinosa with 3:30 to play in the first, before Gallegos’ two-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter cut the Pirates’ lead down to 14-7.

From there, the Pirates took charge and dominated the rest of the first half.

San Pedro went on a 21-point blitz, starting with Jackson going over the top for a 44-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Raymond Geha with 8:23 left in the second quarter, then just over a minute later, senior WR/DB Antonio ‘A.J.’ Frazier Jr. would play Roosevelt’s ensuing punt off the bounce, then would get a huge alley up the left sideline before cruising to the end zone for a 64-yard touchdown.

Even after senior kicker Ricardo Parra’s missed 41-yard field goal, San Pedro wasn’t done yet as the defense would take another one away.

Junior linebacker Nick Zabatta dropped back in zone coverage to intercept a quick pass from Gallegos, then would take it 26 yards to the house for a backbreaking touchdown, capping off the Pick 6 by hurdling a charging Gallegos right before crossing the end zone with 1:56 to play before the intermission.

Zabatta’s scintillating defensive highlight staked the Pirates to a 35-7 halftime lead, then they would overwhelm the Roughriders with a methodical 16-play, 68-yard drive to begin the second half that shaved off eight minutes and 23 seconds, ending with Parra’s 37-yard field goal with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter.

Davenport’s three-yard touchdown run with 5:54 to go in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring for the Pirates, who will travel to face Redondo Union next Friday.